Nothing is better than a picnic!

Nothing is better than a picnic, so says Zooey Deschanel. And I have to agree!

Picnics say summer, and what’s more summery than a picnic with a red checkered tablecloth and wine and cheese?

This is Laura — and I knew this darling file, Picnic Basket Box Card, by svgcuts.com would be the perfect project for cutcardstock.com's summer design team challenge. 

Like any project, I first gathered my CutCardStock materials:

DCS Discount Card Stock: Pearlized Textured Jet Stream Blue. This 80-pound cover cardstock has a pearlized texture on one side and a matte color on the back. The shimmer and the light color made it look “realistic” for the wine glass. 

For the flowers, I used Basis PINK 80lb Cardstock. It has a slight texture to it but is mostly flat. I used this for the tiny flower bouquet.

I also used DCS Discount Card Stock: Textured Japanese Maple Red Card Stock, which has a subtle linen texture on one side and was perfect for my wine bottle, the wine in the glasses, and the grapes. 

I also used DCS Shimmery Textured Wedding Cake 8.5x11 inch White Card Stock, which is textured and shimmery on one side and smooth matte on the back side. This was perfect for the “China” plates in the back.

I also added basket weave patterned papers from KaiserCraft’s Salty Kisses 12x12 paper pad for the base of the card and the handles with silver metallic paper (for the utensils and wine bottle label) and red checkered patterned papers (for the tablecloth, tops of the box card panels) from Hobby Lobby.

I sized the SVG file down, maybe a little too small since the project is only one inch wide on the box of the box card, but being this small makes the card even cuter. I then altered my layer colors to represent my supplies. As far as embellishment, all the card needed was some Stickles on the glasses and grapes.

I think it turned out great — minus the ants that show up at a picnic! Let me know what you think below!

Congrats to Mr. & Mrs.!

This is a short and sweet Congratulations design team prompt for CutCard Stock.com. I knew I wanted to use their Bronze specialty paper on a project: Stardream Metallic 8.5 x 11 BRONZE (brown) 105lb Card Stock.

The paper’s finish is Mica-coated metallic+ pearlescent & iridescent — and it is double-sided with 105# cover thickness, which is perfect for formal wedding and special occasion cards. I used Kolette Hall Studo’s Wedding Split Design Card found on the loriwhitlock.com website.

And I had to use a shimmer cardstock to match the look and feel of the bronze paper. DCS Shimmery Textured Wedding Cake 8.5x11 inch White Card Stock is now my favorite cardstock for my paper projects. It is textured and shimmers on one side.

My Cricut cut the sentiment, and I was happy that it was a clean cut, but that’s what you get when you use good paper!

I also made more cards using DCS Discount Card Stock: Textured Japanese Maple Red Card Stock, which has a subtle linen texture, and a grey cardstock that I bought from CutCardStock, which is no longer available.

Hope that you enjoyed looking at my projects -- and will try it yourself. Let me know below if you do!

Let's Go To Coffee

For the friendship CutCardStock challenge today, I made this box card for a friend who needs a bit of cheering up -- and what's better than a card inviting her to coffee?

Sized at 2 x 2 3/4 (not including the steamed milk), this box card fits in my hand — and a custom-cut 3 1/2 x 3 1/8 envelope. The SVG image is from SVGCuts.com and is called To Go Coffee Box Card.

I used DCS Shimmery Textured Wedding Cake 8.5x11 inch White Card Stock for the coffee top and the steamed milk.

The brown card stocks I used for the coffee cup base and the coffee layer were papers I had on hand. The print is from a patterned paper stack from Recollection's Farmhouse.

The “I’m here for you” stamp by Stampin’ Up! is the perfect sentiment for this month’s design challenge: Friendship. I added a tiny jewelry heart to the side of the sentiment and it fits perfectly.

I love the steamed milk cut that peeks out from the top — and you can see from the side angle too.

I finished the cup with a copper brad and brown paper flower attached to the back. Now it is ready for the mail — who would you send it to?

“Just Because” Wildflower Box Card

For Cutcardstock's DT challenge, I used the Wildflowers Box Card SVG from svgcuts.com. For those of you who use SVGs, there are individual image files or the entire image in one file. I use the latter because it is less complicated and easier to shrink down. I could have made this even smaller, the cuts would have held up at that size. 

I used card stock that I had on hand as well as cutcardstock.com papers:

DCS Discount Card Stock: Textured Japanese Maple Red Card Stock, which is by far my favorite red.

Astrobright Solar Yellow 8.5x11 Discount Card Stock, which is a great, bright yellow.

Lessebo Colors HUNTER GREEN 83lb Cardstock, also a must-have deep green.

I also inked all of the flowers and leaves in similar colors, using Color Box Flower Petal inks. I love the shimmer, which gave the bright card stock, and how it muted some of the colors, like the green. I also used contrasting inks on the yellow rose — so the tips were a lovely pink.

The trunk is based on dark brown card stock as well as a wood grain patterned paper that I also have on hand. The file image had holes for brads, and I love that touch. I bought the brads from Amazon — just search mini brads and you will have your choice of colors. 

There is an oval shape that lends itself to personalization, so you can write what you want, just because. 

This may seem like a complicated file, and at first, I questioned if I could do it justice, but once you get going, it was easy. And svgcuts.com also gives a video how-to and a PFD of all the cut pieces, making it less overwhelming. 

Let me know what you think and if you will try this project!

Monochromatic Bookmarks

I have a new obsession — and that is making bookmarks. I bought an SVG from Etsy and although some of the cuts didn’t play nice on my Cricut, two images did.

I thought that the monochromatic Design Team challenge would be a perfect way to use the Bazzill Marble Card Stock in Robin’s Egg with Recollections cardstock in Aqua that I bought through cutcarddstock.com but is no longer in stock. The Robin’s Egg looks exactly like a Robin Egg, without specks but swirls.

I cut layers using both colors and reversed one — so I used Robin’s Egg as the top layer on top of the Aqua and the reverse: Aqua on top of the Robin’s Egg.

I thought that the bookmarks needed a bit of shine, so I used my Stickles for glitter on parts of the images, not all. I think it was the right touch.

What do you think?

Father’s Dad Treat Gift

Looking for sweet thinking of you on Father’s Dad gift? Check out Lori Whitlock's four candy drawer dad’s tools svg. It’s adorable! 

The candy box slides open. I used cardstock and found that the thickness of Shadow Ombre Sombra cardstock was sturdy enough for the box and four boxes inside. The inside boxes hold four Starburst candies in each box. I think Hershey's Kisses and Dove chocolates would make a nice fit too. 

The cover is made with Japanese Maple, to be sure my favorite red.

 

I then cut transparency paper and glued it to the inside of the box top to contain the candies. You could use any color card stock, but I used clear because I love how you can peek through the windows to see what’s inside. 

The candy drawer comes with tool images — and I cut them in Solar Yellow by Astrobrights and metallic silver paper that I had on hand. 

This project is going to my husband, who loves to work with his hands.  If you make this, I'd love to see the CutCardStock color choices you make. Let me know in the comments if you will try it!

Mother's Day Bouquet Box Card

Some designs lend themselves to more than one theme. This is a Valentine's Box Card from Lori Whitlock that works as a Mother’s Day bouquet too.

For this project, I used the following card stock:

DCS Shimmery Textured Wedding Cake 8.5x11 inch White Card Stock

Lessebo Colors HUNTER GREEN 83lb Cardstock

DCS Discount Card Stock: Textured Japanese Maple Red Card Stock

Bazzill Marble Candy Hearts Card Stock 12x12 - 1 Sheet - Closeout

I want to show you the whole page of the Marble Candy Hearts. I love the swirls and thought they blended nicely to cut flowers -- try it in your projects!

This is how the swirls cut - see the middle flower above. 

Lastly is a close-up of the teacup -- bouquets deserve bows and a card.