Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Oh So Charming at The Cuttlebug Spot


Continuing our month of embellies, The Cuttlebug Spot is featuring charms this week. I was really pretty excited about this one because I knew immediately what charm I wanted to use. I got these cherries in the clearance at M's awhile back for a buck and they had originally been $19.00. Apparently to go on a bracelet with a clip on clip so it's removable on my card. I figured I'd FINALLY get to use my Spellbinders Cherry Pickin Frame so I had that cut, embossed and colored with gel pens very early on. I'd just gotten new Cricut blades, too so I decided to cut the sentiment from Just Because Cards on my Cricut at 1 1/4", a size I wouldn't normally attempt for a delicate cut like this but it cut like butter and I was on a roll (or so I thought). I pretty much thought I was WAY ahead so I put my card aside to work on some of my other DT things and picked this back up yesterday figuring it would be a snap. Not so much!
Here's where things got tricky. You might want to pause here and get a cup of coffee or glass of wine, depending on what time of day it is in your neck of the woods because I'm gonna ramble again, or you can just skip it all, look at the pix (there are more than usual) and of course leave me a comment (hopefully) and go about your merry way. This card took FOREVER (all day and into the early evening, actually), even though I had all of the major stuff done. It's because I put so darn many self imposed rules and restrictions on my DT cards. I take my DT positions VERY seriously. I try to do each in a style that suits the particular challenge blog be it Cricut, or stamping, or vintage, or macabre or CUTTLEBUG, so you're not gonna see a Cricut card or stamped card with a teeny bit of embossing thrown in as an afterthought because I really want to showcase the Cuttlebug and perhaps show you a different technique, new goody or whatever. Now that's just me. Basically, the challenges are good as long as you use your Cuttlebug somewhere, but I challenge MYSELF with this (and hopefully encourage you to explore your Cuttlebug capabilities a bit more in the process). So I didn't just want to slap this stuff on a card and call it done. I wanted to incorporate more folders, a new card fold, you know, something different but was stumped.

I wanted to use, in particular, a folder from the Cuttlebug Preserves Cricut Companion set because it had cherries on it and also something that looked like a basket (finally decided on the Sizzix Plaid folder from one of their Basic Grey Christmas sets, both on SALE at Custom Crops) but that cherry frame was pretty BIG. I got it in my mind to do one of those sort of petal cards (a square in the middle with half circles at each side that fold up sequentially). Not really sure if I explained that right, but I did designed and cut one on my Cricut and embossed every other one with the 2 folders I mentioned but them couldn't decide what to do with the frame. Put it inside? Obviously this was a no go, because I ended up cutting off 2 of the flaps that WERE embossed with the Preserves folder to stick on version 2 and this is what was left. Hopefully I can use it for something else in the near future.

So on to a regular gate fold card but the thing wouldn't stay closed so I made a band and stuck the frame on that and took this pic but I didn't like this either. the band hid too much of the embossing and was a pain to slide off so I tried again...
ripped the ribbon off, taped it to card stock the same width and attached the frame again. Better, but with the band off the card was so darn plain... so I abandoned the band idea completely. (I do love that cherry ribbon though)
Ripping that frame was pretty difficult but I managed so here's how the final version opens. The colored part of the frame is popped on one side of the gate fold (reinforced with a second frame glued to the back for strength) the the sentiment side is attached directly to the other. Conveniently, when the 2 sides intertwine, the card stays closed. WooHoo! So you see, many times my designs turn out nothing like I originally planned, often take 5 times longer than anticipated, and drive me to drink at the end of the day. I wonder if any of you STILL want to get inside my head while I'm crafting. Bet not. LOL Now go have a peek at my my fabulous teamies have done with this challenge and why not try a hand at it yourself?

17 comments:

  1. Hi Donna,
    This is a gorgeous creation. I love the embossing and the colours. Fantastic work.
    Hugs,
    Fiona x

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  2. ROFL... you are such a 'hoot' Donna.. it turned out fabulous my friend. hugs

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  3. Holy moly, check out this card and all it's fancy folds! Yup, I believe your cards take FOREVER to make, because they look like you put HOURS into them. I'm not even being facetious for once. I don't know where you find the patience!

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  4. I totally get everything you said, and YES I still would like to live inside your head and yes I go through all the same things changing things and it usually turns out that the things that look the simplest are the ones that take me FOREVER! And...YES I love your rambling....it is what makes you YOU! And...$19 what were they thinking?? But if it matched something I was trying to make heck, I'd probably buy it, LOL! Glad you got it for $1!

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  5. Oh my gosh this is awesome!!! How complicated - it makes my head hurt!! LOL I love the embossing and the color is fabulous!! Gorgeous Donna!
    Hugs,
    M

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  6. See? I told you it was going to turn out FABULOUS! I didn't realize that the Spellbinders frame you were talking about was actually embossed with cherries...way cool! I love how you abuse the heck out of your projects as you go along. Wondering if there's a hotline number we need to call. LOL! LOVE the way it looks when open and how the flaps and layers just fold into each other so perfectly. And kudos to you Donna, for making it a true CUTTLEBUG card! Not as easy as it seems....been there, done that! Think I'll hop on over to see how your fellow DT peeps have added charms to their CUTTLEBUG projects.

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  7. While sipping my morning coffee I realized that there's a reason why I come to your blog for each and every one of your posts....because you're crazy-driven to make every project be the best it can be! You did an awesome job on the CB challenge this week...I love the cherries! TFS!

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  8. Your work is inspiring and challenges me to reach for the next level...your directions are super as I seem to think along the same lines as you do...no problems following along! I appreciate your rambling because you are sharing your design thought process. The theme, color, and overall design are beautifully selected...thank you for raising the bar!

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  9. Cherry Cherry baby, I love what you made!!!! It is amazing and that finishing touch, the cherry charm is the piece the resistance!

    love
    Jannie

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  10. I'm so glad to find out other people do some of the things I do! LOL! No matter how you got there, the finished product is "oh so fantastic" truly gorgeous, and a true testiment to the Cuttlebug! I love it, Donna!
    hugs, Sharon

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  11. You poor girl what a day you had - but it turned out wonderful! Thank you for the inspirations, creations and frustrations....

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  12. D-
    Haven't visited in a while....that darn "job" thing! But, just have to comment...THIS IS AMAZING. I absolutely love your design and how clever this works. I am in awe!
    NJB

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  13. LOVE IT -- the colors, the embossing, the fold... all of it!!!

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  14. What a fun card, Donna. I love your layout and it very cleverly put together. Wonderful job!

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  15. Fabulous card - the little cherry charm is so cute!
    So sorry for not getting round to visit you last week...am having a stupidly busy time at work at the moment!
    Helen x

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  16. Fab card and and I really like how it opens up.Love the cherry charm to, so cute.

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  17. What a challenge but you pulled it off beautifully! No one but you and now thousands of others know what you went though to get it here. Fabulous card Donna!

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Thanks for making my day!