Cat Cupid Valentine's Day Card

This past Christmas I realized that as much as like my Cricut Expression it was limiting me creatively. This became very obvious when I was working on the inspirational book. There was so much that I wanted to do but my beloved Cricut Expression just didn't have the capability. C'est dommage! My Cricut just didn't have the ability to to allow me to import my own designs, fonts, etc for cutting and the cartridges in my library didn't have the fonts that I was looking for and even if they did; there was no way to weld the letters into words. Although I found ways to work around this limitation, the designing and planning was time consuming. I am computer savvy and would like to use my PC to modify the images on the cartridge rather than to have to cut and piece the image on my own.

While searching the web for more information about the Cricut Explore, I came across joyslife.com.  Joy thoroughly explained several cutting machines. After reading about the Cricut Explore, I decided that even though it has a lot of impressive features it doesn't really meet my needs. I went on to read about the Silhouette Cameo. I could connect it to my PC, send the images to my printer, cut my own images and use the fonts already on my computer. I researched a little further and then jumped of the fence and ordered it from Amazon. While I am awaiting the arrival of my machine on Thursday, I downloaded some .svg cut files from Kadoodle Bug Designs.  I adored the cute "Cat In The Hat" type design. The file was only $1.00 and included three images and a title. This was my first time downloading .svg files but it was really easy. After payment for the design was received, Kadoodle Bug Designs sent a confirmation e-mail and I was able to download the files from there. The file  was sent as a zip file and when unzipped revealed an SVG, jpeg, dx and a couple of other formats.  The files are still sitting on computer awaiting the arrival of the Cameo, but I was able to print the "Cat In The Hat" cupid and cut him out to use on a Valentine's Day card.  My husband was really impressed with the quality of Kadoodle Bug's graphics-the image is crisp and clear, even when printed on card stock.

Here's the card that I made with the "Cat In The Hat" cupid design. It was hard to see the shading of the cat once he was cut out so I added some shading with  grey and pink Copic markers.

Directions for Cat Cupid Card:

Kadoodle Bug Designs Cat Cupid  image
Card stock: medium teal, pink dotted, grey and a scrap of pink
Teal satin ribbon
Self adhesive pearls
Lace trim with aqua beads
Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist Dazzling Diamonds
Sizzix Valentine's embossing folders
Sizzix Texture Boutique or other embossing machine
Teal feather
Small pink heart shaped crystal


1.  Cut a piece of teal card stock approximately 5 1/2 inches high by 3 1/2 inches wide and emboss using the hearts embossing folder in the Sizzix Valentine's embossing folder set.

2.  Download the Cupid Cat image from Kadoodle Bug Designs and print the image on white card stock at 3x5 on an inkjet printer.  Carefully cut the white background away from the image.  Lightly spray the cat with Glimmer Mist and set aside to dry.

3.  Cut a piece of pink dotted card stock (I used Martha Stewart) to approximately 4 1/2 inches wide by 6 inches high and round off the corners.  Cut two pieces of lace trim to fit across the top and bottom of the card stock and glue the edge underneath the edge of the card stock.

4.  Center the cat on the teal embossed card stock and attach him using foam dots.  Glue a small pink heart shaped crystal to the tip of the arrow and a teal feather to the end of the arrow. Place a small pearl in each corner of the teal card stock. Glue the teal card stock on top of the pink dotted card stock, centering it.

5.  Attach foam dots to the back of the pink dotted card stock and center it on the front of a card and press in place.

6.  Cut the teal ribbon 1/2 inch longer than the length of the card, tuck the ends of the ribbon under the ends of the card and glue in place.  Tie a small bow and glue in the center of the ribbon.

7.  Cut a small heart from the scrap of pink card stock. This can be cut freehand or using a die cut image. I used the Sizzix heart die.  Print BE MINE and cut away the white paper close to the words. Glue the phrase to the center of the heart. Attach a foam dot to the back of the heart and stick the heart in the upper right edge of the teal card stock.

Kitty Thank you Card

I was standing in the check out line in the grocery store and noticed a display of greeting cards with a "hand made" touch. I picked up a cute card with a die cut bird and bird house on the front. I contemplated buying the card until I turned it over to look at the price. I was in sticker shock- $7.95 for a card with a few die cuts on it? There was no way that I could ever justify the price when I have a Cricut at home.

Although this is a thank you card, it could be used for other occasions by changing the greeting. I almost decided to use theme for a Valentine's Day card instead.


Directions for Kitty Thank you Card:

Recollections small white roses
Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist-Cherry, Pearl
Martha Stewart Heart Border Punch, leaf paper punch
Pink ribbon with white hearts
Recollections adhesive backed small crystal hearts, pearls
White, black, light pink,cream and olive green card stock
DCWV Tres Chic mat stack- pink and black print card stock
Cricut Four Legged Friends cartridge
Bone folder
Zots
Small foam dots


1.  Print the greeting on a piece of white card stock using the half fold option.  Fold the card in half and crease it with a bone folder.

2.  Using the Cricut Four Legged Friends cartridge cut Cat 5 at 2 1/2 inches out of white card stock. Press the shift key and cut Cat 5-S out of cream card stock. Press the Layer key and cut the ear, nose and collar out of light pink card stock. Press the Layer and Shift keys and cut the eye lashes out of black card stock. Assemble the cat. Lightly spray Kitty with Pearl Glimmer Mist and let her dry. Attach a small pink crystal heart over Kitty's nose and attach 3 small pearls to her collar.

3.  Cut a square, 3 1/2 inches high by 3 1/2 inches wide, from black and pink print card stock. Cut a 4 inch square out of the light pink card stock. Cut a 4 1/4 inch square out of the black card stock.

4.  Glue the pink card stock on top of the black card stock, leaving a 1/4 inch border on all sides. Attach Zots to the back of the black and pink print card stock. Layer the print card stock on top of the light pink card stock leaving a 1/4 inch border on all sides. Press the print card stock in place.  Attach foam dots to the back of Kitty, center her on the print card stock and press in place.

5.  Cut a piece of  pink ribbon and tie a small bow. Cut two smaller pieces of ribbon and glue them to opposite corners layered card stock. Glue the bow over the ribbon on the upper right hand corner of the card stock.

6.  Lightly spray a white rose with Cherry Glimmer Mist. Let it dry. Punch two leaves out of the olive green card stock, using the Martha Stewart leaf paper punch.

7.  Punch a heart border out of the light pink card stock, using the Martha Stewart heart border punch. Save the left over pieces from the punched paper (hearts and paper scraps from heart image).

8.  Apply a small pink heart on each side of the word Merci. Use the left over scrap of pink card stock from the heart border punch and glue it over the top and bottom of the word Merci, to frame it. Glue the rose to the left of the frame and glue two leaves under the rose.

9.  Glue the heart border under the front edge of the card.  Glue the small hearts from the border punch to each corner of the black card stock.

Foxy Valentine Card

Valentine's Day is fast approaching and as usual I have more ideas for projects than I have time to complete them. C'est la vie! There are several more Valentine's projects in the works and hopefully time won't run out before they are completed and ready to post.

The first of the cards is finally finished. This card was originally intended for Valentine's Day but I plan to use it for my Close-to-Valentine's Day Anniversary.




Directions for Foxy Valentine Card:

Cricut Ornamental Iron and Noah's ABC Animals cartridges
Martha Stewart Filigree Heart and tulip paper punches
DCWV Black Current Stack-patterned grey paper and pink dotted paper
Recollections Metallic Stack- silver paper
Black, rust, white, dark pink and grey card stock
Offray Black and White Dotted ribbon
Jolee's Bling adhesive pink pearls
Stickles Ice Stickles glitter glue
Adhesive clear crystals
Small pink adhesive backed rose
Scrap of green card stock to cut leaves for rose and tulip stem. Scrap of pink and white print for tulip
Smooch Pearlized Accent Ink- green apple or green metallic nail polish
Foam Dots



1. Fold the light grey card stock in half and crease along the fold.

2. Cut the grey patterned card stock to approximately 6 1/4 inches long by 5 inches wide. Next cut the black card stock 4 1/2 inches wide by 5 1/2 inches long. Cut the pink dotted card stock 4 inches wide by 5 1/4 inches long. Glue the pink dotted card stock on top of the black card stock, leaving approximately an 1/8 inch border on all sides. Attach foam dots to the back of the black card stock. Position the black/pink card stock on top of the grey patterned card stock, leaving a 1/4 inch border on all sides. Once you are happy with the placement press the black/pink card stock in place. Position the grey patterned card stock grouping about 1 1/2 inches from the top edge of the card and center it and glue in place.

3. Using the Cricut Noah's ABC Animals cartridge cut the Fox at 3 inches out of black card stock. Next press the Fox and the Shift keys and cut (Fox-s) out of white card stock. Finally press the Layer and the Fox keys and cut the fur out of rust card stock. Assemble the fox. Attach 3 clear crystals around the Fox's neck for a collar and apply a small amount of Ice Stickles to the Fox's eye lashes and nose. I used a tooth pick to apply the Stickles to the eyes and nose.

4. Load the Ornamental Iron cartridge into the Cricut machine. Cut Gate 10a at 5 inches out of silver metallic card stock. Glue the Gate to the pink dotted card stock.

5. Attach foam dots to the back of the Fox and position her near the bottom edge of the Gate, leaving a small space to the right of the Fox's feet. Press into place once you are happy with the placement.

6. Attach a pink pearl to the swirls at the top of the Gate. Next attach a small pink rose at the top center of the Gate. Cut 3 small free form leaves out of the green card stock. Don't worry if they are not perfect, leaves in nature are not perfect. Fold the leaves over an awl or other small object to give them an upward curve. Bend the tip of each leaf backward over the end of the awl. Paint the leaves with Smooch or nail polish and set aside to dry. When dry glue the leaves under the rose.

7. Punch a small tulip out of the scrap of green card stock and another tulip out of the pink and white patterned card stock. Cut the tulip flower from the stem of the pink and white card stock and glue it over the green tulip flower. Paint the tulip stem with Smooch. When the flower is dry glue it to the right of the Fox's feet.

8. Punch four hearts out of dark pink card stock using the Martha Stewart Filigree Heart paper punch. Glue a heart to each corner of the grey patterned card stock. Apply a small amount of Ice Stickles to the inside of the hearts.

9. Tie a small bow out of the black and white dotted ribbon and glue to the top center of the card.

Robot Valentine's Day Card

I have so many projects going on that I have had little time to spend with my Cricut. Valentine's Day is quickly approaching and it's the perfect time to fire up the Cricut. I love making my own Valentine's Day cards because I am not limited to the design and message printed on a commercial card. Valentine's Day is the perfect opportunity to unleash your creativity! I wanted to do something different so I used the Robotz cartridge.




Close up of Robot

I always keep a lot of embellishments on hand for my projects. Embellishments can be expensive so look for sales and check the clearance aisles regularly and then stock up. After I cut the robot out, I grabbed several embellishments and laid them on my desk. I started laying them on the card until I had the design that I wanted.

Brittany recently asked how do I go about designing a card? The first thing that I do is to start with an idea of the main design element. Since I use Cricut cartridges to make most of my cards I usually decide on the image that I want to use and work from there. After I decide on an image the next thing is to determine the color scheme. For the Valentine's Day card we chose pink with grey accents. The next step is to have fun with the embellishments-place them on the card to see what works and what doesn't. Above all don't glue anything down until you are sure that this is finished design. I usually complete the design, leave it on my desk and walk away for awhile. When I return if I feel that the design doesn't need any changes then I glue the elements in place to complete the card.

Directions for Robot Valentine's Day Card:

Cricut Robotz cartridge
Cricut Paper Pups cartridge
White, light grey, black, light pink and medium pink card stock
Pink heart print card stock
Wilton heart shaped paper lace doily
Large pink self adhesive pearls
Recollections large white pearls
Stickles Ice stickles and platinum glitter glue
2 small black beads
Martha Stewart pink micro beads
Pink and white dotted sheer ribbon
Tattered Angels Pearl Glimmer Mist
Glue
Foam dots
Clear nail polish

1. Print the Valentine greeting using a card program and the half fold option on white card stock. Fold the card in half and crease along the fold.

2. Load the Cricut Robotz cartridge into the Cricut machine and cut Robot 10 at 3 1/2 inches out of medium pink card stock. Cut Robot base out of light grey card stock and Robot 10-s out of black card stock. Press the shift and layer keys to cut the eyes out of white card stock. Assemble the Robot. Spray the Robot lightly with Pearl Glimmer Mist and set aside to dry.

3. Cut the pink heart print card stock 4 1/2 inches long by 4 1/4 inches wide.

4. Glue the heart shaped doily to the center of the pink heart print card stock.

5. Attach the Robot to the center of the doily with foam dots.

6. Position the pink heart print card stock with the Robot about 2 1/2 inches from the top of the card, making sure that it is centered. Attach a pink self adhesive pearl to each corner of the pink heart print card stock.

7. Place a white self adhesive pearl over each of the wheels.

8. Load the Paper Pups cartridge into the Cricut machine. Select the Love Dog image. Press the dog and shift to cut the heart. Cut 2 hearts out of light pink card stock at 1 1/2 inches. Glue the open heart to the right and left of the Valentine's greeting. Apply Ice Stickles glitter glue to the hearts and set aside to dry.

9. Glue a small black bead to the center of the Robot's eyes. Apply Platinum Stickles to the Robot's left antennae.

10. Apply glue to the heart shape from the center of the open heart and cover it with Martha Stewart pink micro beads. Shake off the excess beads and cover the heart with clear nail polish to seal it. When the heart is dry attach it to the Robot with a foam dot.

11. Tie a small bow using the pink and white dotted sheer ribbon, center the bow just below the pink heart print card stock and glue in place.

Hello Kitty Valentine Card

I just love Hello Kitty because she's so cute and sweet. She's just perfect for a Valentine's Day card. The best part about this card is that it uses the left over card stock pieces from other projects.






Directions for the Hello Kitty Valentine's Day Card:

Cricut George and Basic Shapes and Hello Kitty cartridges
Dark pink, light pink, white, black and green card stock
Cream satin ribbon
K & Company Felt Valentine Roses (available at Michaels)
K & Company pink print Valentine's paper
Got Flowers? Iced Flowers- Aqua
Small brads- I used a flower shaped brad for Hello Kitty's bow and a round one for her flower
Martha Stewart Heart Border punch and Rose Leaf paper punch
Microsoft Word
Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder
Sanding pad


1. Type Be Mine in Microsoft Word using the Monotype Corsiva font at 36. Change the font color to red and print Be Mine on white paper. Trim to approximately 2 inches long by 1 inch high.

2. Using the Cricut George and Basic Shapes cartridge cut a heart at 4 inches out of dark pink card stock. Emboss the heart using the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder. Lightly sand the raised dots to highlight them.

3. Cut Hello Kitty 2 at 3 inches out of black card stock. Press the fur key and cut Kitty's face and paws out of white card stock. Press the clothes key and cut her dress out of light pink card stock. Cut it again out of the dark pink card stock. Press the clothes and shift keys and cut her bow out of dark pink card stock. Assemble Kitty using the dark pink pieces for her shirt. Color her nose with a yellow marker. Place a flower shaped brad in Kitty's bow. Use a small aqua flower for the flower in her hand. Attach a small round brad to the center of the flower. Cut a small piece of green card stock for the flower's stem.

4. Use the Heart Border punch to punch a border out of dark pink card stock. Save the small hearts left over from the border. You will use these to accent the card.

5. Cut a piece of pink Valentine paper 5 inches wide by 7 1/2 inches high. Glue a piece of cream satin ribbon 1 inch from the bottom edge of the paper. Tie a small bow and glue it to the ribbon. Glue the dark pink heart border along the right edge of the paper. Fold a piece of white card stock in half lengthwise and crease it with a bone folder. Glue the pink Valentine paper to the white card stock leaving a white border around the top and bottom of the card. Apply foam dots to the back of the heart and attach it approximately 1 3/4 inches from the bottom of the card. Attach foam dots to the back of Kitty and center her on the heart. Press her in place.

6. Place a red felt rose in the upper left hand corner of the card. Punch two leaves out of green card stock using the Rose Leaf paper punch. Glue the leaves under the edges of the rose. Glue Be Mine at an angle above the heart on the right hand side of the card. Glue the small dark pink left over hearts in opposite corners of the Be Mine greeting. Randomly glue the hearts around the pink Valentine's paper.

Poodle Valentine Card

The Cricut Paper Pups cartridge is so cute and versatile. I really like this cartridge and wanted to use it to make another Valentine's Day card for my husband (who has been banned from reading my blog until Valentine's Day is over). Thursday we had a wintery mix (snow and ice) so it was a good day to work on some cards. Like the last two cards I decided to use a French verse for the greeting. Mon amour pour toi est eternal (My love for you is eternal) just seemed to work well with this card.




Directions for Poodle Valentine Card:

Black, dark pink, pale pink, green and light grey card stock
K & Company Black and White patterned card stock
Cricut Paper Pups cartridge
Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels Nine; Sizzix or other die cut machine
Pink ribbon with white hearts
Clear stick on rhinestones
Martha Stewart Holidays Paper Rose Embellishments
Martha Stewart Lace Heart border punch, Rose Leaf paper punch and Lace Heart edge punch
Bone folder
Large and small foam dots
Tattered Angels Pearl Glimmer Mist
1. Fold a piece of light grey card stock in half lengthwise and crease with a bone folder.

2. Use the Martha Stewart Lace heart edge punch to punch a heart out of dark pink card stock. Next punch a heart border out of the same card stock using the Lace Heart border punch. Save four hearts from the border punch left overs.

3. Place a piece of black and white patterned card stock on top of the Spellbinders large label and cut it with the Sizzix or other die cut machine. Cut a piece of pink and white heart patterned ribbon to fit the lower edge of the label and glue in place. Tie a small bow and glue in the center of the ribbon.

4. Cut a piece of black card stock 4 inches wide by 4 1/2 inches high. Glue the pink lace heart border under the bottom edge of the black card stock. Place foam dots on the back of the label. Center the black and white label on the black card stock and press in place. Glue the four small left over hearts in each corner of the black card stock. Glue the black card stock framed poodle approximately 2 1/2 inches from the top of the card.

5. Using the Cricut Paper Pups cartridge press the solid key and cut a 2 3/4 inch poodle out of pink card stock. Turn off the solid key and cut a poodle out of light grey card stock. Assemble the poodle and spray lightly with Tattered Angels Pearl Glimmer Mist. When the poodle is dry color the nose black and fill in the eye area (add eyelashes if desired) with a fine point black marker. Place three small rhinestones around the poodle's neck to make a collar. Put several small foam dots on the underside of the poodle. Attach the poodle to the label just above the ribbon.

6. Center the dark pink lace heart under the pink lace heart border and glue in place.

7. Print Mon amour pour toi est eternal or the Valentine's greeting of your choice on white paper, using Microsoft word and Monotype Corsiva font at 18. Trim the paper to approximately 3 inches wide by 3/4 inches high and glue on to a piece of dark pink card stock. Leave a small border around the white paper. Cut a piece of black card stock slightly larger than the piece of dark pink and glue the previous layers on top of the black. Position the framed greeting at a slight angle across the top left portion of the card.

8. Place two light pink and one dark pink rose in the upper right hand portion of the card, overlapping them slightly. Press in place. Using the green card stock and the Martha Stewart Rose Leaf paper punch, punch out three leaves and glue them under the edges of the roses.

Cheshire Cat Valentine Card

Cricut has just released the Disney Classics cartridge. The cartridge contains several images from Alice In Wonderland including the Cheshire Cat. I received my cartridge yesterday and couldn't wait rip open the box and start working on a project. I just had to incorporate the Cheshire Cat, with his cool smile, into a Valentine's Day card for my husband. I chose Je pense a toi (I'm thinking of you) for the greeting because it just seemed to fit the character and it gave me another opportunity to use my French.



Directions for Cheshire Cat Valentine Card:

Cricut Disney Classics cartridge
Light grey, pale pink, dark pink, black, yellow, dark purple, medium purple, dark green and white card stock
Wilton heart shaped lace doily
Pink dotted sheer ribbon
Recollections pearls
Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder and embossing machine
Tattered Angels Pearl Glimmer Mist
K & Company Valentine Felt Roses
Got Flowers? pink and cream colored flowers
Martha Stewart Lace Heart border punch and Rose Leaf paper punch
Foam backed mouse pad
Dry embossing stylus (ball tip at each end)


1. Fold a piece of light grey card stock in half lengthwise and crease using a bone folder.

2. Cut a piece of medium purple card stock 4 1/2 inches wide by 4 1/4 inches high and emboss it using the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder. Lightly sand the embossed surface to highlight the dots.

3. Glue the heart shaped doily 1/2 inch from the right edge of the embossed card stock.

4. Load the Disney Classics cartridge into the Cricut. Place a piece of black card stock on the Cricut mat and cut Cat 2 at 3 inches. Press the shift key and cut the top of the cat's head out of dark purple card stock. Press Layer 1 and cut the tail, ears, paws and mouth out of pale pink card stock. Press the shift and Layer 1 keys and cut the mouth out of white card stock. Cut the eyes out of yellow card stock by pressing Layer 2. Press Layer 2 and shift to cut the stripes out of dark pink card stock. Load pale pink card stock into the Cricut and press Layer 3 to cut the alternating stripes. Assemble the cat.

5. Spray the cat lightly with Glimmer Mist and let it dry. Attach foam dots to the cat and position him to the left edge of the heart.

6. Use the Martha Stewart Lace Heart border punch and pale pink card stock to make a heart border. Glue the border to the bottom edge of the embossed card stock. Attach the Recollections pearls to each corner of the embossed card stock.

7. Apply foam dots to the back of the embossed card stock. Position the piece 2 inches from the bottom edge of the card.

8. Type the Valentine greeting of your choice in Microsoft Word using the Minya Nouvelle font at 18 and print it out. Cut a tag out of dark purple card stock and glue the greeting to it. Glue the hearts left over from the punched border to the top and the bottom of the tag. Tie a small piece of pink dotted sheer ribbon to the end of the tag. Tuck the end of the tag under the embossed card stock and glue in place. Glue three small hearts left over from the heart border next to the cat's head.

9. Punch six leaves out of green card stock using the Martha Stewart Rose Leaf paper punch. Lightly fold each leaf in half lengthwise. Turn a foam mouse pad upside down to expose the foam backing. Place a leaf on the mouse pad and use a stylus to lightly press veins into the leaf.

10. Attach a felt rose to the bottom center of the card. Arrange the off white and pink flowers around the bottom of the card, alternating pink and off white. Glue the flowers in place. Glue the leaves under the edge of the flowers. Attach a Recollections pearl in the center of the flowers.