Friday, July 26, 2013

Photo Friday- Kittens!

I can't believe another week of summer has come and gone!  I just don't know where the time is going!  I do know that my boys aren't ready for school to start but I am.  :)

Part of our busy summer was a trip to South Dakota to visit my parents.  I'll have more pictures from that trip in the upcoming weeks but today I wanted to share some photos of their adorable kittens.  These kittens aren't pets but roam their 40 acres as they please.  Since they are still quite young they mostly stay in a wood pile.  If you are lucky you can get a little close to see them before they run off.  If you have a good zoom lens you can get a little closer and get some fun photos.  Thanks for stopping!





Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Despicable Me Minion Birthday Card

I'm finally getting a card up!  My lack of posting cards and scrapbook layouts isn't because I haven't been doing anything, I've just been busy!  I have a quite a few projects that are completed but need to be photographed.  School will be starting before we know it and I'm sure then I'll be posting more frequently.

I few weeks ago one of my sons was invited to the movie theater for a birthday party to see Despicable Me 2.  We don't see many movies in the theater (it's expensive with 4 boys) but this movie we all wanted to see.  Since one was already going to be there we figured we'd go too.  Of course I had to make a 'despicable' birthday card.  We hadn't yet seen the movie but my boys knew that there were some color changing minions (thanks to their yogurt) and said that I should make a color changing minion card.  Always up for a challenge here is what I came up with.  
Let me share how I made this card and also show you the fun surprise on the inside!

When I first thought about a color change card I immediately thought of vellum and a secret panel.  To make that secret panel I knew I would need to use my Gypsy.   If you are not familiar with the Gypsy it is a tool to use with your Cricut.  It allows you to weld shapes from different cartridges and makes planning your projects a ton easier.  If you have a Cricut I would highly recommend getting a Gypsy.  I used the George and Basic Shapes cartridge and my Gypsy to make some minion shapes and 'overalls'.
Once I had my shapes looking how I wanted them I placed my paper accordingly (yes, these are all scraps except for the card front).  This is one of the main reasons I love my Gypsy.  You never have to waste paper because you know exactly where to place it!
Once I had all of my pieces cut I could start assembling my card.  Sorry I don't have a picture of all the pieces separate.  I did part of the card late one evening and finished it the next morning.  That is also why these aren't the best pictures.  Some were taken on my iPhone and others with my Nikon.  I was in a rush so they aren't stellar.

I first assembled the yellow minions and by using the holes in the front of the card as a guide, glued them inside the card.  The bottom layer of the overalls is just a piece of the blue paper trimmed to match the shape of the minions.  The top layer of the overalls is the piece I made on my Gypsy.  I used some gromlets that came with my Crop A Dial Big Bite as the goggle frames.  They were the perfect shape and size.  I then found some google eyes that fit inside them.    
My next step was to create the purple minions.  To do this I just put a piece of purple vellum over the holes in the front of the card.  I marked where the eyes were and used a circle punch to punch them out.  This allowed the eyes to peek through the card.  I then stuck the bottom layer of the overalls over the vellum lined up with the yellow minion overalls and did the same with the top overall layer.  No need to cut the bottom off the overalls as it will be covered up with the secret panel. 
Here is a view of the inside of the front cover of the card.
Next I worked on what I am calling the secret panel.  It really isn't secret but it hides all of the mess from the previous step.  It is also what gives this card the ability to 'change' color.  This panel is slightly smaller than the front of the card so I inked the edges with some Distress Ink to add some dimension.  I also stamped Happy Birthday in the top right corner using my Stamp-a-ma-jig so it would be placed exactly where I wanted it.  
After the panel was completed I placed it on the front of the card and added some finishing touches.  A stamped 'G' on the overalls and marker buttons completes their clothing.  I free handed their arms and legs with markers.  I am not an artist but the quirkiness really adds to the card.  I added some marker hair (after seeing the movie I would have had purple wild hair).  Oh well.  The straps for their goggles are made with quilling paper.  Some more Distress Ink around the edge of the card.  And of course these purple minions needed frowns.   
When you open the card the minions are now happy and yellow!  I added the same details I did to the purple minions only this time they have smiles.  Originally I had frowns on the yellow minions too because you could see through the vellum (another thing I will change if I make this card again).  I used the negative pieces that were cut from the front of the card, cut holes out for the eyes, and stuck them under the purple vellum.  This not only made the purple darker but allowed me to change those frowns into smiles.  
Here's a close up of these adorable little minions.  I just love them!
I hope you'll try making your own minion card.  They are so fun and everyone loved it!!  Thanks for stopping!!

Supplies:
  • cardstock- misc scraps
  • stamps- Stampin' Up!, Studio G
  • ink- Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Spiced Marmalade), Memories Dye Ink (Black)
  • Cricut cartridge- George and Basic Shapes
  • tools- Stamp-a-ma-jig, EK Success (circle punch)
  • embossing powder- Ranger (Superfine Clear)
  • markers- Zig Writer (Pure Black, Pure Blue, Pure Yellow, Pure Violet)
  • misc- vellum, quilling paper, google eyes, glue dots, gromlets (We R Memory Keepers) 

Friday, July 19, 2013

Photo Friday- Look Who's 10!!

My first born is 10!!  When did that happen?!  If he's 10 that means that I'm...never mind.  Time sure does fly once you have children.  Zach is such a fun, loving, caring, and creative boy (he makes things out of Legos that I can't even imagine!).  We went to a local pond just before sunset and captured these shots of him at 10.  I hope you like them as much as I do.  Thanks for stopping!









Friday, July 12, 2013

Photo Friday- Viva Las Vegas!!

Wow!!  June was busy!  3 weddings, 2 trips, and a funeral all within a few weeks of each other.  No wonder I haven't had time to get anything up here.  I'm glad to say that my July is much quieter.  In fact there are days on my calendar with NOTHING!!  I don't know about you but I love those days.  During my busy month though I did manage to get some great photos taken and get LOTS of scrapbooking done.  So hopefully I'll be able to get a project or two up here and there when I'm not enjoying the last bit of summer with my little dudes. 

On one of those trips in June I was able to take a much needed mommy break to go visit my best friend in Las Vegas!  5 days, no kids, and scrapbook time!  Not even a sudden head cold could hamper my visit.  This was my also my first trip to Vegas.  I was up early most days (thanks time change) and read in peace and quiet.  We enjoyed lovely food.  We went out on the strip.  But most importantly we enjoyed our time visiting and scrapbooking (you'll see pages up soon I hope).  I could not have asked for a more relaxing break.  Here are a few of the highlights of my visit (all courtesy of my iPhone).
 
 
I hadn't flown in about 12 years so I loved the views of the ground from the plane.  It was so fun to see the scenery change from farm land, to the mountains, to the desert.  We live in such a beautiful land. 
Of course when we hit the strip we had to watch the water show at the Bellagio.  My boys also enjoyed a video that I sent them.  I really enjoyed the different styles of architecture and loved how different they looked in the day vs the night with all the lights and people.  

One of the things I loved seeing were the mountains in the distance.  This view was from the casino and hotel where we attended the Creating Keepsakes Convention (love the panoramic mode on my iPhone).  It's such a different feel than when you are downtown on the strip.   
A surprise for me were all the palm trees!  I was expecting no grass and cacti but not palm trees.  Needless to say I have a few pictures of them.  ;)
I loved the lights on the strip at night!  As I wrote earlier the feeling between day and night on the strip was very different.  I wasn't a fan of the huge crowds but those lights were worth the adventure. 


I'm not a huge gambler or drinker but I had to play a few slots (unfortunately I didn't leave a winner).  This wine was my one and only glass of alcohol on the whole trip.  It was a great end to a great day. 
We also enjoyed a little Starbucks while I was there.  It was so fun to catch up.  The best thing about great friends is that no matter how long it's been since you've seen each other it seems like you've never been apart. 

   
Thanks for stopping!  I hope you enjoyed my little trip.  I did get a lot of scrapbooking done while I was there so as I put the finishing touches on my pages you can be sure they will be showing up here.  Until then...Viva Las Vegas!!