SugarShine Designs

Snowman Shaker Card

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Hello crafty friends! Today's post is a winter shaker card. I was inspired by a couple challenges to use the colors, the snowman theme and to depict an activity in the snow. I've never done a shaker card but have intended for some time to make one. If you're not sure what a shaker card is, read on!

In the closeup below, you'll get a better idea of it. Basically, a decorative pocket is made with acetate as the top so you can see through it. Inside are beads and sequins that can move freely when shaken; thus the term shaker card.

This is a 5" x 7" card when folded. The card base is white. I cut a mat out of blue and white paper and two more mats out of a snowflake paper and from light blue card stock. I also cut out one of my new favorite Cricut images, the scalloped circle that serves as the shaker's frame. To put some finishing touches on the mats, I punched a tree border on the top of the snowflake paper and stamped a border showing kids playing in the snow on the top of the light blue card stock. Once the light blue was stamped, I ran it through a snowflake embossing folder being careful not to emboss the top where the stamp was. To finish it off a little more, I glued a piece of glittery white ribbon just below the stamped image.

To create the shaker to hold the sequins and beads, I first stamped the snowman on a piece I cut into a rough circle shape. It didn't need to be exact because the frame covers it up and gives the illusion of a perfect circle underneath. Then I used that rough circle as a guide to draw another a circle on the fun foam and drew another circle about 1/2" outside of the inner circle. From this I could cut out a foam ring which serves as a padding between the stamped bottom of the shaker and the acetate top. I cut another circle out of acetate which I recycled from some packaging. It's always good to re-purpose things right? I don't usually save "trash" unless I have a plan for it. I have a small work area and not a lot of room. Since I knew I was going to do a shaker card, I saved some packaging for this project. You could also use acetate overhead sheets from an office supply store if you wanted. Once all the pieces were ready, I created a sandwich starting with the snowman circle at the bottom. Then the foam ring was glued to the top of it. This is when I could finally add the sequins and beads inside the foam ring. Once that was in place, the shaker was sealed with the acetate on the top. The frame went on top of it all and hides all the imperfections and gives it a pretty finished look. Kind of ingenious isn't it?

At this point, I completed the assembly. I glued all the mats down and the shaker on top of the mats. The final touches were the glitter ribbon, the flower, a couple gold snowflake sequins and some enamel dots in blue and white. It still looked a little empty so I used the same stamp set to stamp JOY on white card stock and attached it with a layer of foam tape to give it dimension.

I hope you enjoyed today's card. I'll be back again soon so stay warm and happy crafting!

- Janet

SUPPLIES:
Close to My Heart - C1468 - Winter Joy
Cricut Circle Frame Shape from Lori's Garden
The Paper Studio - Embossing Folder - Snowflakes
Flower - Prima - Flower Embellishments
White Glitter Ribbon - Hobby Lobby
Misc. sequins and beads from my stash
Misc. papers from my stash
Tree Punch - Creative Memories
Fun Foam - Blue
Recycled clear plastic
Enamel Dots - Homemade

CARD CHALLENGES
FantabulousCricut
Little Scrap Pieces Show It Off Saturday - Let It Snow
Craftin Desert Divas Linky Party
Bitten By the Bug - All Time Favorite Cricut Cut
DL Art January Linky Challenge
Robyn's Fetish Challenge #245
Cute Card Challenge #355 - What's New
Mojo Monday Challenge

You Could Win a Free Cricut Explore!

Hello! A quick post to tell any of you out there who don't currently own a Cricut Explore about a great opportunity to possibly win one. There is a Facebook group called Cricut Design Space. The admin is holding a random drawing to choose someone who is a member and does not currently own their own Explore. To join, look up the group name and request to join. This link may also take you to their page https://www.facebook.com/groups/570321816434816/

Once you've joined, follow the directions in the Admin's post. Her name is Dewana Curry Rohl. This is a good opportunity because most of the group already owns an Explore and that's why they are part of the group. The word will get out but the drawing pool will likely be smaller than most drawings for something of similar value. The group itself is a good resource to follow for tips and inspiration. Tons of projects get posted and it's fun to see what others are doing with their machine. If you join, I hope you win!!

A Copy of the Announcement in the Cricut Design Space Group Feed:
Dewana Curry Rohl
3 hrs
****For those who do NOT own an Explore****
I personally have a never used, never opened Explore to give away!!
Every month I like to do "a pay it forward" this is my first one of 2015! I would like to give it to someone who currently does not own one. Please be honest, it will save me a great deal of time. There are ways to fact check this, just sayn'! LOL.
This is JUST for those who do not own one, you cannot enter to give it to someone you know who doesn't have one. It will go to someone in THIS group who doesn't own one.
I will do a random draw on February 12th for all of those who post below. I would like to hear why you want an Explore and what has held you back from purchasing one already.
GOOD LUCK!

Birthday Bear!

Saturday, January 3, 2015

Happy New Year! Wow! It's amazing that it's 2015. Did you know that this is the year that the movie Back to the Future was set in?? The future is now!

Before I get into my project today, I just want to point out that I have revamped my blog theme over the holiday. I hope you like it as much as I do! I'll be updating my Facebook page to match over the next week or two. I'm looking forward to a fresh look as the New Year begins and I'm excited about what 2015 will bring! One of my plans is to open an on-line shop which will allow me to sell some of my projects or provide custom orders. Likely I will open an Etsy shop and possibly also add a shop on the Facebook page. I will let you know as I move forward with any of the plans running around in my head.

Now for today's project. This is made with something new (the cloud embossing folder for the mat) and something old (the sequins on his hat). I cut the shapes for these cards on my Silhouette Portrait. I made a birthday party invitation and a matching thank you card. They were made with no one in mind although I did use my cute little granddaughter's name on it. It is a practice run and one of the sets I'll likely put in the shop if I ever get that far. This was a lot of fun to do. They are 4.25" x 5.5" and use an image from PPbN designs. Although it doesn't show up that well, the blue plaid mat has been embossed with a cloud background.The balloon string is embroidery thread and the enamel dots in the corner are from the Candy Shoppe by Queen & Co. I pick these up at AC Moore. You can get them in many colors and 24 of varying sizes come on a card for $1. Not bad for enamel dots, especially when you can use a % of regular price coupon that is fairly regularly offered.

You know, sometimes the things I'm working on start speaking to me (and it doesn't always happen at midnight when I can't see straight and begin to hallucinate)! This little bear was begging me for googly eyes so I had to make him happy. Who am I to deny what the bear wants?! Ha, ha! The sequins on the top of his hat came from my husband's Grandmother Rose's large sequin stash that I was lucky enough to get after she passed on many years ago. It's gratifying to use her sequins on projects and I've been using them a lot lately! There are many unusual shapes and sizes which have been a lot of fun to put to use. I know she'd be happy about that.