Wedding Reception Menu Cards with Tie The Knot

I am back in wedding land again!  I have been coming up with menu presentation options to present to my future DIL.  I found a post that my friend Donna Mundinger posted at Everyday Cricut last year (HERE) where she used TIE THE KNOT and created great note cards.  I liked the look of Donna's cards and decided to give them a try for myself.

The first thing I did was use my Cricut Imagine and printed two different pieces of cardstock.  I used the Theresa Collins Black and White cartridge (which was a gift from a friends and arrived today!!!) and printed one sheet of white cardstock with a print and one sheet of red cardstock with another print.... Remember that my future DIL has selected red, black, white, and a touch of silver as her colors.

After printing my print cardstocks, I set up a cut file in Cricut Design Studio.  After adding a page which contained two of the criss-cross cards, I added a page of triangles (from George) measured to fit the sides of the criss-cross cards.  After cutting the triangles with the Cricut, I used my paper trimmer to cut each triangle in half lengthwise.

After scoring the criss-cross cards and applying the black and white print to one side of the card and the red and black print to the other side.  I then scored the three folds - one on each side and the tab at the center bottom

Using my ATG, I applied adhesive to the bottom flap and folded in the black and white layer.  Next I applied adhesive to the bottom edge of the black and white print  and folded the red and black side over and sealed.

Next I created the menu inserts.  I used a rectangle from George and welded the shadow of the very pretty M from TIE THE KNOT to the top of the rectangle.  Then using MS SEASONAL ART, I added the letter "enu" and welded those to the capitol M.  The cut on the left in the photo below shows the base cut.  Next I cut the letter M in red cardstock and affixed it over the white shadow cut.

I made a second version of the insert to show to Crissie - one that has a black layer added under the red "Menu". Once the menu cards are completely assembled, we will need to finalize the menu the caterer, print the menu on vellum and affix the vellum to the cards.  Easy and elegant, but also personalized.

The One That Didn't Make the Post

Monday's BBTB2 recipe card was not a one of a kind.  In fact, it was my second attempt to with the same design.  The card above was my first attempt.  And while it was a perfectly respectable recipe card, I felt it was missing something - like a top crust, a second flip open layer, and a better embellie!!

I posted this version of the card so that you might know that those of us with blogs do not get it right every time.  Sometimes I post a project that I do not love, but often I have been known to re-craft a project if time permits.  Monday morning time WAS permitting....

At bedtime Sunday evening I was suddenly hit with a kidney stone.  After managing to finally fall asleep, I woke up an hour and a half later at 4:00 am and could not go back to sleep.  So I thought to myself - you were not happy with your blueberry pie card... why not try again?  So yes, that was how I entertained my sleepless self!

I am feeling much better and think I am almost back to normal.  I did some cleaning yesterday after my CTMH set arrived, though truthfully I wanted to go play in the scrap room.   Guess what I plan to do today??? :-)

Blueberry Pie Recipe Card with BBTB2

It's a Bitten By the Bug 2 Monday here at Busy with the Cricky.  This week we are making pies!!!  My sweet design team sister Krista Norman chose this week's challenge cut, the pie from the Paper Doll Dress Up cartridge. 

What Krista could not know is that I will take pie any day over cake.  Don't get me wrong, I like cake, but pie is really my thing!!  I love the fattening flaky pie crust and the yummy fillings.  When I was at the lake last month  MFK, my friend Kathy, brought a gallon of blueberries from her yard for us to enjoy.  We had blueberries in yogurt, blueberries in cereal, blueberries in salad, Kathy's blueberry crisp, and finally, blueberry pie.  We found the recipe below on the Internet, but let me tell you, it is a keeper!!!  I have made it for Doug and I since returning home.

I decided to use the pie off of the Thanksgiving cartridge, but I hand trimmed the swirls of "steam" off of the pies.  I welded two pie cuts top to top so that they would open like a card.  I then cut the entire pie one more time in green gingham.  I cut just the pie top in a blue floral print and topped it with a lattice cute.  I used the lattice tag on French Manor to cut the pie lattice.

I used both Cindy Loo and Martha Steward Seasonal Art Cake cartridges for the fonts. I love these two font, Cindy Loo is so sweet and whimsical, while the MS Seasonal font is so versatile. 

Inside the card I printed the pie recipe into two rectangular text boxes, measured to fit the inside of the card.  I am not sure if I have shared this recipe previously, but you can copy it from the text below.

Blueberry Pie
Ingredients

• 3/4 cup white sugar

• 3 tablespoons cornstarch

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 4 cups fresh blueberries

• 1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch double crust pie

• 1 tablespoon butter

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).

2. Mix sugar, cornstarch, salt, and cinnamon, and sprinkle over blueberries.

3. Line pie dish with one pie crust. Pour berry mixture into the crust, and dot with butter. Cut remaining pastry into 1/2 - 3/4 inch wide strips, and make lattice top. Crimp and flute edges.

4. Bake pie on lower shelf of oven for about 50 minutes, or until crust is golden brown.

I finished the card by adding a stamped expression to the front of the card.  The stamp is part of the all around sentiments set by Joy at Joy's Life.  I adore Joy's stamps and this all around set is awesome.  I used a round paper punch and a scalloped paper punch to create the stamped tag.

 

Be sure to stop by the Bitten by the Bug 2 blog and check out the design team members awesome pie projects.  Also, consider playing along and posting your project in the Mr. Linky spot at BBTB2.  Each week there is a play along winner who receives a special blog blinkie!. 

Easter Layout with Martha Stewart Seasonal Art For Everyday Cricut

Happy Saturday.  Today is my regular monthly Saturday post at Everyday Cricut - the fabulous Cricut blog run by Melanie and Joy.  If you have not already been by EC you should hop on over there for all of the details on how to make this fun two page layout using only one cartridge, after you finish here of course. 

I am sharing the Cricut Design Studio cut file for this layout.  The cut file is available in the left column in the "Downloadable Cut Files" section.  The title of this cut file is Easter Layout MS Seasonal Art. Just think, in the next couple of months I will be able to share Cricut Craft Room cut file, and the Craft Room will be free to everyone!

Hey - while you are here it is not too late for you to enter to win this fabulous SEWING BOX, by The Original ScrapBox company!  Scroll down to last Wednesday's post for details on entering here at Busy with the Cricky. 

One lucky person will receive this awesomely huge cutting mat right here on Tuesday, April 19th - and along with nine others from the ten blogs involved in this giveaway, that person will go into a final drawing for the Sewing Box.  The drawing for the Sewing Box will be at Rachelle's blog on April 22.  I cannot wait to see who wins!

Scoll down and leave your comment(s) under Wednesday's post!

Easter Silhouette Card

Have I told you that I love the Martha Stewart Seasonal Art Cake Cartridge?  I really, really like this cartridge a lot, though I have not used it once for cake making!!  It has a lovely font and art work for every major holiday. 

Purple is not a color I work with often - and there is a reason.   Short story, I once had to do an entire scrapbook in a purple palette.  It wore me out on purple for quite a while.  :D

My daughter told me told me that the bunnies are creepy!  What?  Creep?  No way.  But yes, apparently the clothing on the bunnies that makes them creepy.  And of course my husband agreed with her, only he claims the creepy parts are the eyes.  Everyone's a critic!!  But okay, I probably should not have drawn in eyes....... Or the ears......?

My favorite part of the card is the background paper.  I like all of those Easter eggs.  In fact, I liked them so well that I cut out six of them to use the in the silhouette basket and the bunnies'  hands. 

The flower embellishement was created by layering two large white flowers with two lavender flowers and topping them with a crocheted flower and button. 

I stamped the inside of the card with a stamp I picked up at Hobby Lobby last year. 

This probably is not my best card every - I think it is curse of the purple.  After that purple scrapbook, purple and I just do not work well together!! 

Simple Pages in a Flash for a Multi Scrap Page Event

Today I want to share the idea of using simple layouts to help you deal with a multi-page scrapping event.  As part of my 50th birthday celebration last year we went to the Aiken Spring Steeplechase on my actual birthday.  After the Steeplechase we had friends over for a party picnic/party with games.  It was a wonderful birthday!  But scrapping the day took many pages.  I had the elements of the Steeplechase as well as outdoor and inside photos from the evening.   I had previously scrapped four pages of of the evening party, but I had not yet attempted to scrap the Steeplechase.

I began by dividing the photos and memorabilia into categories:  Intro, family and friends, carriage parade, and Steeplechasing.  I combined the memorabilia with two photobooth looking photo strips and a photo of a single horse and rider.  I used two coordinating pieces of black and white print cardstock, white cardstock matting, and a white pen for doodling and created the first two pages. 

Above, I had saved an extra copy of the invitations we sent to family and friends to join us at the Steeplechase, matted it on white cardstock, and combined with the photo strips to create an intro page.

Page two includes my admission badge from the event, the actual event program, a single rider photo, and bit of ribbon and a cardstock sticker.  Easy peasy yet nice looking.  The print cardstock was a great touch.

Pages three and four contain five of my favorite photos from the many taken during the carriage parade.  HINT:  Do not feel like you MUST use every photo.  You can select photos to represent the event/location (I chose my favorite of the Grand Canyon too, and did not scrap all 70+ photos).  The largest of the photos is a 5x7, three are 4x6's, and the smaller photo is 2.5x6 inches.

I chose a simple black cardstock background and cut a single sheet of traditional equestrian looking plaid paper in half to decorate the page.  I chose a pale yellow color from the plaid and matted the five photos on yellow.  I added chipboard brackets and a chipboard sticker, along with layered flowers.  Again, simple and easy - let the focus be on the photos.

Pages five and six were the easiest.  I had enlarges some of my photos to show details of the event.  I had four photos - an 8x10, a 5x7, a 10x4, and a 4x6.    I matted the photos on white and light blue cardstock.  The 8x10 and a title fill the first page - with a "take the jump" sticker. 

Page six is a bit crowded, but I did not want to spread the "Chasing" photos over another two pages... So I squeezed it all in.  I have very few embellishments, again, because the photos are the focal point.  I felt that too many embellies distracted from the photos.

Pages seven and eight are the final two Steeplechase pages - family and friends.  And while I added a little detail to these pages, again they were quite simple.  The pages were created with a speckled navy blue cardstock base, a sheet of blue and green print cut in half, and a blue and white print.  I picked up on the green in the print to use as base matting. 

The letters were cut from the M.S. Seasonal Art cartridge.  And the final embellishments were the layered flowers, in blues and whites. 

And that is how you make eight quick pages of the same event using a limited number of photos to represent the overall event.  I broke the event down into phases - and scrapped two simple pages for each of the four phases. 

Tomorrow I will be announcing the winner of the Custom Crops gift voucher - Not an April fool's joke!!!

Heart Wrapped Votive with MS Seasonal Art

Happy Valentine's Day!  This week it is my turn to select the weekly "challenge cut" at Bitten by the Bug 2 and in honor of Valentine's Day, I chose the heart border AND a decorative heart from Martha Stewart's Seasonal Art Cake cartridge.  I must tell you, the cake cartridges offer so much more than just cake cuts!  I love paper crafting with this particular MS cake cartridge.

Originally I designed a heart shaped card in design studio using this week's challenge cuts.  However, while looking at the votive candles on my dining table in the wedding vignettes, I decided to return to the Cricut Design Studio drawing board.   

 

I welded four sets of heart borders (the first of the two challenge cuts) together.  I then attached four lacey hearts (the second of the two challenge cuts) to the heart borders.  I completed these welded cuts in a fun, flirty pink cardstock.

I cut the welded shadow border hearts in white cardstock.  And finally I cut four more of the lacey hearts in white, with basic hearts from the Calligraphy cartridge inserted to remove the middle of the hearts.  This created the lacey white accents on the large hearts. 

After attaching all of the pieces together, I added pink accent stones using the I-Rock tool (LOVE my I-Rock).  

The photo below shows more of the details, the the light photographed a bit too yellow. 

If you have not already done so, please do go by BBTB2 and check out the fabulous Valentine's created by my FABULOUS design team sisters!   They are an amazingly talented group of women who manage to "rock it" each week at BBTB2!!!

Fence Challenge using Heritage

She said yes - - Everyday Cricut Project

Happy Saturday everyone.  Sorry to have been MIA all week - I was dismantling my Christmas decor and working on some Spellbinders projects.

To make up to you for being gone all week I am the Saturday designer at Everyday Cricut.  Okay.  Really.  It is just my normal Saturday at the Everyday Cricut blog but I AM sharing!

This week's project is called, She said yes!  My older son proposed to his girlfriend during the Christmas holidays and Crissie said yes to marrying Aaron!  As you might have guessed, my husband and I are thrilled. This layout is one that I will actually use in their scrapbook, but the photos were quickie computer printouts.  The real photos are still being printed. 

For all of the details on creating this layout, including cartridges, please head over to Everyday Cricut.  There are also additional photos on the EC blog.

I will be back on Monday morning with a fun Bitten by the Bug 2 challenge project.   Have a wonderful long weekend!