A Sweet Little Frame

Hi All! I can't believe it's already time for another Rose Blossom Garden Challenge! Where did May go?!? 

Today's challenge is to make something using the "Birthday Girl" key on Close To My Heart's Cricut Artiste cartridge. Here's my answer to the challenge:

I decided to make a couple of cupcake frames for Mother's Day gifts for my mom and mother-in-law. I cut the base of the cupcake at 5 inches first from chipboard and then from Dream Pop card stock. I also cut 3 bases from Black cardstock, inked the edges with Black Exclusive Ink, and used them on the back for a stand. I then cut two of the wrapper images from Dream Pop paper and one more from chip board. I layered one wrapper directly on the cupcake and one on the chipboard wrapper. I then cut three icing layers from Dream Pop and another from chipboard. I layered one image on the cupcake and one on the chipboard piece. I popped the chipboard layers up with dimensional adhesive. Before sticking them down, though, I sketched out an opening for the 2x2-inch Flip Flap that would house my photo. I cut both chipboard layers to the size of the desired opening. Once that was done, I inked the edges of the pieces with Sorbet Exclusive Ink and adhered them to the bottom layer. I added my photo and Flip Flap, and then the third icing layer, which was also inked with Sorbet Exclusive Ink. The third layer serves to camouflage the opening of the Flip Flap while still allowing you to change out the photos. I then blinged it up with bitty and medium size sparkles, a sparkle button from my stash, and Sunset Bakers Twine from the Paradise Assortment.

The back was made by layering one black cupcake on the back of the chipboard. I then layered two together to give them more weight and folded them down the middle. I attached one side of the fold to the chipboard and left the other side free to act as a stand.

Here are some close-ups of the bling:

I hope you enjoyed my sweet little frame. I look forward to seeing what creative projects you can come up with over in the Rose Blossom Garden!

Just Call Me MRS Clause! (part 1)

Hi All! I hope your holidays are shaping up nicely. It's a bit of loosely-controlled chaos here at the Hill Household, but we're getting there.

The Rose Blossoms had a Secret Santa gift exchange recently, so I thought I'd share what I sent to my gift-ee. (What does one call the recipient of a Secret Santa gift?!) It's a bit involved, so I think I'll make this a two-part post. (Who has time for a novella??)

Here's the gift:

My friend loves blush pink and La Belle Vie (and Hershey Almond Kisses), so that's what I decided to work with. (By the way, the La Belle Vie Workshop On The Go is retiring at the end of the year, so get it while you can!)

So let's start with the pink boxes. Here are some close-ups:

The boxes were cut using the Cricut Artiste Cartridge. The small box was cut at 4 inches and the larger bag was cut at 5 inches. I used La Belle Vie patterned paper and La Belle Vie mauve and pink cardstocks, all from the Workshop On The Go. The stickers are from the La Belle Vie My Stickease Assortment. I added Black Sparkle Flourishes, Pearl Opaque Adhesive Gems and stick pins from the Bling Assortment. I also used Silver Shimmer Trim and some 1/8-inch black satin ribbon for an extra touch. The button on the small box is also from the Bling Assortment. The roses and hearts were cut using Artiste. The mauve rose was cut at 1 1/2 inches and the pink was cut at 2 inches. I added some sparkles to the center. To round everything out, I added Black Tulle Ribbon. (I then, like a good Mrs Clause, filled both to the brim with Hershey Almond Kisses!)

I'll go ahead and show the outside of the stationery box today. We'll get to the inside tomorrow.

This box was created from LBV mauve paper, and covered in LBV pattern paper. (For a good tutorial on how to make this box, click here.) I added stickers from LBV My Stickease Assortment, Black Tulle Ribbon, Black Sparkle Flourishes, Pearl Opaques, and stick pins from the Bling Assortment. I added a little pink scalloped circle behind the "Paris" sticker to anchor the tulle. For the "Joie" element, I used 1/2-inch wide strips of tulle that I folded in half and attached to the back of the sticker. (By the way, everything is attached with hot glue and dimensional adhesives.) 

We'll open up the box and take a look tomorrow, so stay tuned....