Happy Fourth of July!

Well it's the big day for my party and I'm doing pretty well for a change. Still have loads to do but at least I think I may make it before the guests arrive. LOL I saved this week's Cuttlebug Spot card for today because I thought I may not have time to do much crafting this week (and I was RIGHT!) and it's an Independence Day theme. Again I apologize for not making it around to all of my fave blogs but I promise to catch up after my company leaves next week. Anyway, here's my card.

I usually try to make my Design Team cards for The Cuttlebug Spot using Cuttlebug only, not because it's a requirement, but because I think many of the followers may not have another kind of die cutting machine. That didn't exactly work out this week because when I went to make the flag just rectangular, it just plain looked BAD so I cut this pretty one with my Cricut Expression and the Stand and Salute cartridge. It's embossed with the stripes Cuttlebug folder that may be an exclusive from Oh My Crafts. (Crap, I have so many know it's hard to keep track! LOL) I used white core paper on both the flag and the stars embossed background and sanded it. After sanding I realized that white paper was just TOO WHITE against the sanded bits so I chose to do the rest in creme instead (and it then looked pretty fab with this striped paper from My Mind's Eye).

The Stars are cut with my Spellbinder's Nested Stars run through my Cuttlebug. The creme star is then embossed with the Cuttlebug Limited Edition Christmas Stars folder I got from Custom Crops (hurry, on sale NOW!). I then scored and folded the star to make it 3D. It really needed a shadow to make it stand out, so I cut another star using the same size Spellbinder's die in gold metallic which made it pop and worked because of the dimension of the top star. It was attached with rolled up glue dots at the edges underneath.

The sentiment is also cut with the Stand and Salute Cricut cartridge and embossed (carefully) with the tiny dotted butterfly folder from the Cuttlebug 3x3 duo.

The card was still a bit plain so adhesive beads to the rescue! LOL I think they REALLY jazzed up this card! Now if you haven't already, be sure to stop by The Cuttlebug Spot for more patriotic inspiration. There is a fabulous prize of a $50 gift certificate from Simon Says Stamp for one lucky participant. So for all of you celebrating, have a safe and FABULOUS 4th!