Swirly Heart's Wedding Invitation


I was playing around with some wedding invitation ideas that have been milling in my mind....This is a tri-fold card (9.25 x 4; finished size) with an insert. This insert has can be pulled out and ran through a printer with all the important wedding details. It has two hearts stamped in Almost Amethyst craft pad and embossed with clear EP. The heart is from the TAC set called Mini Sampler. The side flaps are embossed with the cuttlebug and is closed with ribbon. The heart is cut with the cuttlebug as well.

To make things easier, I cut 2 2"x9.25" and embossed those peices with the Swirly embossing folder. I then adheared those pieces to the fronts of the card and carefully cut the already cut heart out of the embossed pieces. There is a seam to where the embossing lines up so it is covered with the ribbon.

Getting the most out of your Embossing Powders...

I was sitting here thinking of how to get the most out of my Embossing Powders, especially clear. I say this because besides using it for some sort or resist technique I rarely use my clear EP. So I gathered a bunch of stuff and decided to play with it to see how many things I can do with my clear EP.

1. Image stamped in Versa Mark and embossed with clear EP.

2. Image stamped in Versa Mark and embossed with clear EP, while still hot, I added a fine glitter.
3. Image stamped in Versa Mark and embossed with clear EP, while still hot, I added turquoise pearlex. I heated the image again and added a little more. while cool, I blotted the area to pull up as much excess pearlex as I could.

4. I used pigment ink, here I used the Brilliance Pearlecscent lime and embossed in clear EP.

5. I used a hybrid ink, here I used the Pallette: Claret and embossed in clear EP.

6. I used a SU Craft Pad: Almost Amethyst and embossed in clear EP.

7. I used a TAC Dye based ink: Sun Ripened Raspberries and the Transcendence EP for dye based inks and embossed. With this power you have to pour the powder as soon and the image is stamped.

Then, I was thinking what if you do not have this Transcendence EP? And what if you are looking for a particular color, to match a ribbon or a dye based ink? What if you just want a particular color EP period?? In the picture below, you will see a little bag with some purply EP in it. What I did was take some of my clear EP and added about 6-7 drops SU Almost Amethyst dye based reinker. It is in the process of drying out so that it will be a fine powder again and I can emboss with it. I can not wait to try it out and as soon as it is dry I will try it out and post my results here.

I figure that if a dye based reinker works, then a hybrid reinker should also work. And if it all works out I will experiment with other types of ink. This is a great possible money saver because I found a great deal on ebay once on buying a large amount of clear EP and I already have several reinkers so if this works, then I also have several more colors of EP.

Keep your fingers crossed for my experiment!

Try this fun Recipe!

I found this Taste of Home: Homestyle Classics mini cookbook at the checkout...this one contains 76 comforting favorites with a photo every page..I'm a sucker and bought it.

While browsing I found this recipe called 7 layer gelatin salad and the kids were very excited to make it and eat it!

Here is the recipe:

7 packages (3 oz ea) assorted favors of your choice of gelatin

(4) 1/2 cups each of boiling water and cold water, divided

1 can (12oz) evaporated milk, divided

80z frozen whipped topping, thawed

Fresh mint, sliced strawberries and kiwifruit, optional

-in a small bowl, dissolve one package of gelatin in 3/4 cup boiling water. Add 3/4 cup cold water; stir. Spoon into a 13"x9"x2" dish coated with cooking spray. Chill until set, but not firm, about 40 minutes.

-In another bowl, dissolve another pacakge of gelatin in 1/2 cup boiling water. Add 1/2 cup cold water and 1/2 of the milk. Spoon over first layer. Chill until set but not firm, about 40 minutes.

-repeat 5 times, alternating plain gelatin layers with creamy gelatin layers. Chill each layer until set but not firm before spooning next layer on top. Refrigerate entire salad overnight. Just before serving, spread top with whipped topping. Cut into squares and serve. Garnish with mint and fruit if desired.

Editors note: this salad takes time to prepare since each layer must set before the next layer is added.

We used 7 different flavors and went for a rainbow effect: bottom layer was grape, then blue raspberry, lime, lemon, orange, strawberry and cherry. Do NOT pour the gelatin on to the next layer and I STRESS this because you will mess up the layers underneath. Use a ladle and pour it. Check out another pic of our dessert below, the girls thought it was pretty tasty (the whipped cream started to melt quicker that I thought, otherwise the picture would have been better):

I Love my Cricut!

I joined a Disney Autograph Book swap on SCS, so I worked on the pages today as the internet was out for the majority of the day....

I decided that when the investment was made in the Cricut that I would use it to its fullest capabilities. So, along with the machine and cartridges, I also have the Cricut Design Studio. This program is a great way to mass produce and pre-plan. This software allows me to plan out my entire Mickey Mouse so that I can cut paper to size, lay it out on the cutting mat and cut away. Since the swap that I was for 13+1, I could cut 14 of each thing at a time, the smaller items I could all be cut in one pass through the machine with the DS software.

Also, with DS, I can use markers to draw out what I want rather than cut it out. In the example below, you can see the Mickey Head background paper...no need to buy any disney paper now :)
Now that I look at these pages in more detail, I feel I should have added something to the background on the left hand page, it looks a little too simple for me.

Card details: Red, Black, White, Yellow, Ivory and Gray CS . Cricut cartridges: Mickey Font and Mickeyand Friends. Cricut Markers. 3D-Dots by EK.

Never a dull moment....


Yesterday, my littlest, Grace (better known as Matt Jr.) told me while I was watching the dogs outside that she was going to come upstairs and play her computer game. So, I would keep calling up here while watching the dogs to make sure she wasn't getting into trouble. She kept assuring me that she was playing her Freddie Fish Game. Finally LG came in and Rhylie ran up the stairs in which I her Grace cry out.....so I ran up the stairs....guess who wasn't playing her Freddie Fish Game?? Yep! Matt Jr.!


This is what I found:

Today, my oldest had a birthday party to go to...and another party tomorrow. So, I needed to get out of this card funk that I have been in. Nothing seems to come out how I plan it....since my husband is suppose to be gone all finishing up his sqad time so I figured I would really work on some of these things that I needed to do...cards, scrapbook pages, projects etc. etc.

First I worked on some birthday cards. Both cards are for 7 yr old girls, and Madelyn decided pink, purple and princess was the route that I should take.

In this card, I used my cricut and my cuttlebug to make it. I also put glitter within the embossed circles which I thought helped with the white background not being so blah! I then stamped "there's a princess in every girl" on the inside in Claret ink. Here is what it look's like:

Card details: Pink 2 CS (TAC), White CS (TAC), Gray CS (unknown vendor) and Almost Amytheyst CS (SU). Cricut cartridge: Happily Ever After (princess crown). Cuttlebug EB folder (spots and dots). Martha Stewart ballpoint-tip glue pen. DecoArt Glamour Dust. 3D-D0ts by EK. Rhinestones (from Heather) and periwinkle and pink ribbon from Michaels. Disney Princess Sentiments set. Claret by Palette.