Rocket Card SVG Freebie!

Someone on the SCAL Yahoo group was looking for a rocket file to cut with her cricut and I wanted to make a rocket card to celebrate Battlestar Galactica season 4 coming out on DVD and that’s how this project came to be:

I drew the rocket in Inkscape (Thanks Dan for the video tutorial) and saved it as an SVG then in Sure Cuts A lot I imported the file, re-sized it and copy and pasted it then flipped the copy and welded it together at the wing. I used the font “gear box” for the cog window, and “Flamez” for the, well,  flames. Too much information? Don’t worry, I’ve included my scut file too but you need to download the SVG file for the scut to work. I made the scut file with the Expression so you get 2 cards on the mat. Here are the files:

Download the SVG version here

Download the scut version here (you need the svg to use this!)

Here is a printable template:-)

I punched out the holes with my crop a dial and cut a red single rocket and layered it behind. The alien stamps are by Technique Tuesday and the “happy birthday” is from Stampin up. Cardstock is DCWV. I used my faux copictechnique and Bic Mark its to color the alien and robot. Just start with the lightest colors first and work on one section at a time like color the alien head light green, then add darker shadows around the edges then blend them together again with the light. I used cheap smooth Georgia Pacific Cardstock bought by the ream at Sams Club. Works great!

BTW if you make the little paper figures you may want to lamenate them with clear packing tape so they can hold up to being played with!

Thanks for stopping by, enjoy the file and happy crafting!

I’m Fabulous!!!

Lookie what I got today:

You think that’s cool, look what else I got today:

Samples from the Gorilla Glue company, Score!

I’ve never tried Gorila Glue before, I picked it up at the hardware store once but never bought it…I guess I’m attracted to sparkly pink packages. But when the Gorilla Glue company contacted me about trying their products I said “Sure” (heck yeah, free samples…bring it on!) I think I’ll try the super glue on a jewelery project, I’ve had crappy luck with other brands “super glues” they chip or brake but GG’s has rubber particles in it and it is thicker so I’m anxious to use it! I’ll let you know how it works. Thanks again to Gorilla Glue for sending me the boatload of product to use! Did you see the T-Shirt under the stash, I’ll give it to my hubby cuz he is going to be sooooo jealous when he sees what I got in the mail today. And I’m totally altering that box!

OK back to me being fabulous…OK not me the blog…I am supposed to list 5 obsessions, here goes:

My Cricut, nuf said.

Sci-Fi TV shows, I psyched that Battlestar Galatica came out on DVD yesterday and the LOST season premiere is only 2 weeks away! Oh and how about Dr Horrible’s Sing along blog…too bad I couldn’t nominate him, Got the idea?

Dancing with the Stars, I watch the show, I have the Wii game and I do the workout tapes I LOVE IT!!! Wow, I watch way to much TV!

Rubber Stamps: I love them, use them collect them, make them but rarely ever do I part with one.

And I have to copy Shirley (she gave me this award by the way) Coffee, especially Starbucks soymilk latte, no foam. Yum-O!

I get to pick some other fab bloggers to highlight and keep on the tradition of the blog version of chain mail…. Here they are in no particular order:

Jen She rocks Cricut Design Studio making lots of freebies, most with the George cart so anyone with a cricut can use them!

Cheri Her paper crafts are lovely, check her out!

Scott and Martin they own Vintage Image Craft and spend a few minutes at their blog and website and you’ll know why I love the images they offer, freebies too!

Darlene speaking of vintage you should see the stuff she makes with the Crafty Secrets Vintage stamps, beautiful!

Melissa She rocks, her crafts are beautiful, get ready to be inspired!

Thanks for stopping by and listing to my ramble, happy crafting!

Make your own Dew Drops!

OK first I need to thank Linda from Vegas for her comment yesterday, she asked if I knew how to make my own dew drops. I thought that you could make something similar with hot glue, a non stick craft sheet and alcohol ink.  I think they came out really well:

Home made “dew Drops” made with hot glue!

Here is how to make faux Dew Drops:

Lay out a non stick craft sheet or hot glue mat. They are made out of silicone and nothing sticks to them! Heat up a glue gun with a clear hot glue stick in it.

Drops of hot glue on a non-stick craft mat

Squeeze out little drops of glue.To avoid “strings” twirl the glue gun in a small spiral when you lift it off the drop. Don’t worry if you get glue strings, they will pull off easily later.

Color the “dew drops” in a baggie, so neat!

You can leave the drops clear or put some in a baggie with 2 or 3 drops of alcohol ink and smoosh them around with your fingers. Dump them out on a scrap of paper to dry. They dry quick!

Ta-Da! Almost as good as the real deal!

I’m gonna make some more tonight! you can get a hundred form a 10 cent glue stick. How cool (and frugal) is that! If you don’t want to bother with making your own you can buy them at The Rubber Cafe.

Have fun making this, try making other embellishments with hot glue, squeeze out hearts, frames and swirls, you can even make faux wax seals by squirting out a dab of glue and pressing a small rubber stamp in it then painting the cool glue seal with metallic acrylic paint. Just be sure to protect your stamp by covering it with clear ink first and let it cool before you remove the stamp from the glue!

Thanks for stopping by and as always happy crafting!

More Valentine’s Day, Rubber Cafe, Freebies, Templates and Tips Today!

I’m a poet and I didn’t know it LOL! Well I got a box delivered on Tuesday from the Rubber Cafe and it was like Christmas all over again! And since I got an Expression for Christmas I thought it was the perfect chance to try them both out! Here is the first card I designed:

Got SCAL? (or Design Studio) grab the free files below!

Same Design Different paper: Supplies: Stamps: The Rubber Cafe, Paper: Cosmo Cricket, Flower: Prima, Dew Drops, Ribbon

Here is the Print n cut template, it’s  a small file, just re-size it to print it on a 8 1/2″x11″ sheet or when you go to print select “fit to page” from your printers window. For Sure Cuts A Lot users here is an SVG version of this card, and an SVG version with a heart instead of a triangle for an arrow point. The Design Studio cut file is here, I used a heart for the arrow point because I thought it was cuter! If you want a triangle point just delete the heart and add on a triangle, Just don’t forget to weld! On the following card I simply welded two hearts together, I rotated one so they looked like mirror images then added a heart in the middle one one heart to make the window. Make sure you don’t weld the window or you won’t have one. I stamped “heart strings” on a piece of acetate then painted the back of it with acrylic paint, let dry and attached it behind the opening of the card with double stick tape. All of the supplies on these cards are available at The Rubber Cafe. There are some good sales now too, check out the Halloween stamps for next year and there are some beautiful NIJI pearlessent watercolors too that are a good deal and their shimmers are on sale as well.

Another cute card to cut with your Cricut!

Get this stuff at The Rubber Cafe!

So you are probably saying “cute card…but how the heck do I mail it?” No fear, I have a cute square petal envelope for you to download in both SVG (for SCAL users) and a cut file for design studio users and of course I made it with the “George” cart so most people can use it. The cool thing about the SVG version is that you can make cute mini petal envelopes too! I love the Expression for cutting envelopes…what, no Expression? No worries, You can make the same envelope with a circle cutter, see my tutorial here.

It's hip to be square...A cute envelope to mail square cards in!

TIP: Well, maybe not a tip perse but if you bought (or someone bought it for you as a Christmas gift) the Cricut Expression between October 15th and December 15 2008 you can get two free cartridges from Provo Craft. You need to fill out the rebate form and mail them your receipt and $8. Not bad for 2 free carts, they will send you my community and printing 101, not my top choices but with kids in school they will come in handy!

Thanks for stopping by and reading throught the looooong post! Til next time happy crafting!

Faux Batik Technique!

Want to liven up your next stamping project? How about giving this a try.

Here is how the faux batik looks!

It is easy to do. You simply stamp an image with clear embossing ink, sprinkle with clear embossing powder, hear and paint over it with a light watercolor. Let it dry, stamp and emboss more and paint it with a darker shade. Repeat these steps for an interesting look. See photos for details:

Stamp and emboss on watercolor paper then paint with a light color of watercolor paint.

Stamp and emboss the next image...

...then paint over with a darker shade.

Repete with a darker color, I embossed when the paper was a bit damp so some of the image would flake off and look more authentic...Sure I did that on purpose!

When you are done you can place the batik paper between scrap paper and iron it to remove the embossing if you like but I don’t bother, I’m lazy;-) The stamps in this project are by Inque Boutique, Thanks to Mitzi for giving me her set!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great weekend!

A Grouchy Card and a Cricut Tip!

Happy New Year Everyone! I hope you enjoyed New Year’s Eve an had a safe and fun night. Hubby and I stayed in, we sat down to watch some TV and about 5 minutes after the lights were out I fell asleep! Serves me right for staying up well past midnight every other night this week! My Mom and I took the kids to see Sesame Street Live a couple of weeks ago and I wanted to send her a Thank You card. I thought what a great chance to try out the new Sesame Street Friends cart from Cricut…BTW they added it to the December Design studio update and that update works with Sure Cuts a Lot. After long debate I updated and everything works fine. If you haven’t updated SCAL since the original version you will need to but it is easy and free (all update are included when you by scal and you can use it on 2 computers at one! and they have a Mac version too!) Here is the card I made!

I’m not much for using “character” craft products, or paper-piecing but I just couldn’t help it! That grouch is too cute. I forgot to cut eyebrows so I penciled them in with a brown pastel (AKA chalk) pencil and added details in the fur with black pastel pencil. I grunged up the trash can and sign with ink. I used screw top eyelets on the corners.

Now for the tip: Cricut says that their mats will last 25-40 full mat cuts and when they lose their stickiness they should be replaced. Oh contraire! Here are 3 mats that I have been using for 3 years!

Use Spray adhesive to make your mats sticky again!

Here is how I keep them sticky. Wash them with a dish rag and dish soap and let them dry completely. They will probably be as good as new after this but if they are not tape them to a piece of cardboard (the tape should cover the edges so the sticky doesn’t gum the rollers of your machine up when you use them) and spray them with a multi purpose spray adhesive. Let dry for 5 minutes and replace the cover. If you are in a rush skip the washing and give it a quick spray, just be sure to wait the full 5 minutes before attaching your paper or it will be permanently mounted to the mat! My favorite brand of spray is by Artworks but quilter’s basting spray will work well. Test the spray by squirting some on a scrap of cardboard and letting it sit for 30 minutes, if it is still tacky it will work!

Well, my kids are building forts in the living room and I think there is a territory dispute so I better go tend to that! Happy New Year and Happy Crafting too! Thanks for stopping by!