Queen of Hearts

One of my favorite books is Alice In Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. My absolute favorite character is the Cheshire Cat. There is something so cool about a cat that appears and disappears at will leaving behind only a grin.

A few years ago I was browsing through the literature section at Borders and was fortunate enough to find Alice In Wonderland translated into French. While working on this project I decided to consult the French version to give me another perspective on the characters. I went to the bookshelf to consult the book and couldn't find it. I searched for an hour with no luck. I was on a mission to find it because the French version can't be easily replaced. After tearing apart my study I finally found my treasured copy of Alice In Wonderland.

The images on Cricut's Once Upon A Princess cartridge are so cute that I decided to adapt them to the Alice In Wonderland characters. Here's my version of the Queen of Hearts.




Directions for Queen of Hearts:

1. Using the Cricut Once Upon a Princess cartridge cut Doll 3 at 4 1/2 inches out of cream card stock. Then press the layer key and cut the hair out of orange card stock. Repeat this using pink card stock (for the mouth) and violet card stock (for the eyes).

2. Keep the dial set at 4 1/2 inches and cut the dress for princess 4 out of black card stock. Press the shift key and cut the skirt out of red heart patterned card stock. Using the layer key and red card stock cut the bodice for the dress.

3. Load gold metallic card stock into the Cricut and cut the scepter using the shift key for Princess 4. Change the dial to 1 1/2 inches. Select the font key and then press the chick key to cut the crown. Glue some red card stock behind the crown and trim the card stock to conform to the shape of the crown (if necessary). Glue three pearls evenly spaced along the bottom of the crown. Glue a large crystal in the center of the crown and two smaller ones on either side. Apply red glitter glue to the red card stock center of the crown.

4. Set the dial to 1 inch. Cut 5 small hearts out of red card stock. Select the font key and Crown 2. Attach on heart to the top of the scepter and apply red glitter glue. Glue a small pearl to the top of the scepter.

5. To assemble the Queen of Hearts glue the black dress to the doll. Layer the red bodice over the dress and glue in place. I cut off the skirt that was attached to bodice. Glue the heart patterned skirt over the black dress just below the bodice. Next glue three small pearls evenly spaced to the bodice to resemble buttons. Make a small bow from narrow red ribbon and glue it to the point where the bodice and the skirt meet. Evenly space the four hearts along the bottom of the dress. Layer the hair on the doll and glue in place. Glue eyes and mouth in place. Highlight the doll's hair with red and orange chalk. Use pink chalk to add blush to the cheeks. Glue the scepter to the doll's hand. Attach the crown to the doll's head with glue.

6. Using TPC Studio The Reasons I Love You card stock: With the gray patterned side cut a piece approximately 4 inches by 6 1/2 inches and attach the doll using raised glue dots. Cut a piece of red paper 1/4 inch larger than the dimensions of the gray paper. Glue the gray card stock on top of the red paper. Using the heart print side of the card stock layer the red paper on top so that a heart border frames the piece. Mat the heart print layer on top of black card stock.

7. Glue red sheer ribbon to opposite corners of the card. Make a small bow and attach to the upper right hand corner. Attach the card to a white half fold card using raised glue dots.

Paint Cans

I love the clear paint cans that can be purchased in the craft stores. They are so much fun to decorate and are perfect for packaging cookies. They can be decorated for any occasion.

My husband is having hip replacement surgery so I decided to make some Sables* to bring to him while he's in the hospital. They are a French butter cookie and his favorite. Since I made a get well card with a Panda I decided to go with the Panda theme. There's just something about Panda's that touch your heart.




Here are the directions for the cookie canister.

1. Using the Martha Stewart filigree heart punch and bright pink card stock, punch several hearts.

2. Cut a 3 inch Panda out of black card stock using the Cricut Pagoda cartridge. Keep the dial set at 3 inches. Press the shift key and the Panda key and cut the image out of white card stock. Assemble the Panda.

3. Glue the hearts and the Panda to the paint can using Aleene's Clear Gel Tacky Glue. Hold the pieces in place a few minutes until they stick.

4. Gather several small silk flowers and twist the stems together to form a bouquet. Cut a small piece of pink ribbon around the bouquet and make a bow. Glue the flowers over the Panda's paws.

5. Cut 4 lengths of pink ribbon and 2 lengths of ivory ribbon to make streamers. Gather 2 pink ribbons and the ivory ribbon together. Tie them at the side of the handle. Do the same for the other side.

6. Using the spool of ivory ribbon (Don't cut the ribbon, work directly from the spool.) and a hot glue gun glue the end of the ribbon to the top of the can. Make a loop with the ribbon and glue in place. Keep making loops until you have made a bow. Glue a large purple flower on top of the bow and then glue a smaller flower over the large flower. Glue a pearl in the center of the flower.

* Baking by Dorie Greenspan

Panda Hugs

The weather is absolutely beautiful. I was inspired to make a trip to the nursery to buy some flowers. Apparently I was not the only one inspired by this beautiful weather because the nursery was crowded. After the harsh winter that we had everyone is ready for Spring.

This is the last in the series of get well cards. I made this card for my husband who is having hip replacement surgery next week. I didn't want to make a third speedy recovery card so I decided to use the hugs instead.




Here are the directions for Panda Hugs:

1. Cut a piece of light blue card stock approximately 5 1/2 by 7 1/2 inches. Emboss using the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder. I ran the folder through my Sizzix. Instead of running the folder all the way through the machine, I stopped after the card stock had embossed and turned the handle in the opposite direction and ran the embossing folder back through the machine. Doing this gives a deeper embossed texture. Using Color Box fluid chalk cats eye ink pads Misty Meadow collection gently tap the medium blue ink randomly over the blue card stock. I did this to give the illusion of clouds.

2. Cut a piece of green patterned paper approximately 51/2 by 3 inches. Use the Color Box chalk green and randomly tap over the green card stock to give it depth. Again apply light pressure when stamping. Glue green patterned paper to the bottom of the blue card stock.

4. Randomly cut a tree trunk out of brown card stock. Cut a 2 inch flower out of purple card stock using the Cricut Paisley cartridge and the button feature. Glue the tree trunk on top of the flower. Embellish with small paper flowers. Attach the tree to the blue card stock just above the green paper. Use dimensional glue dots to attach the tree.

5. Cut a 2 1/2 inch Panda out of black and white card stock using the Cricut Pagoda cartridge. Attach the Panda next to the tree using raised glue dots.

6. Punch eight hearts using a small heart shaped paper punch. Glue hemp to the back of three hearts and tie them together with a bow of hemp. Glue the heart strings over the Panda's hands.

7. Randomly hand cut a small basket shape out of white card stock. Cut several 1/8 inch wide strips out of brown card stock and weave them together. Glue the woven strips to the basket shape and trim. Using one of the brown strips of card stock make a handle and glue it to the basket. Glue the basket next to the Panda. Glue the hearts in the basket.

8. Using purple card stock and the Cricut Beyond Birthdays cartridge cut a 2 inch Hugs To You.
Apply a light coat of Smooch Grape Soda to the Hugs and let it dry. Press the purple Hugs over the top of a Versa Mark ink pad. Sprinkle Clear Sparkle embossing powder over the image and shake off the excess. Emboss using a heat gun. Glue Hugs to the blue card stock over the Panda's head.

9. Embellish the card with a paper flower and a pre-made butterfly. Glue a pink ribbon across the bottom of the card and attach a bow.