Life Is Wonderful SOTM Blog Hop

Welcome to this months stamp of the month blog hop. this month we are featuring Life Is Wonderful.

This hop is a circle hop. Just keep going until you come back to where you started. If you have been hopping, you will be coming from {Paige Dolecki}. Next in the hop is {Jennifer Dykstra}. If you lose your way, stop by {here} for the complete list.

I made this valentines / anniversary / every day card. It can really be used for anything. I had to cut out the something that was on the bottom of the always remember stamp so I could fit the rest of my saying.  I had a hard time finding an 'I' to use. There was no 'I' in the happy to be friends stamp I used for the love you. And every one I found was not the right size. Then I remembered that the Artfully Sent bundle came with an alphabet. Perfect fit. There were two styles of 'I'. I thought the curly version fit the best. 

I used this sketch that I had saved. It is no longer available to link to their site, but I still liked it. I rotated the sketch and adapted to a A2 size card.  Plus I was inspired by a color challenge blog to use monochromatic.

I want to share a trick with you. When I need to figure out sizing or layout on a project, I do it in Design Space. I can get the exact measurements and cut out any piece I would like to use. I still use my paper trimmer for rectangles and squares. I did use the cricut for the banner (#M4235A). The cool thing about this is can use Design Space without owning a Explore. You can also do this in Craft Room, I think. I have never used Craft Room.

 I found this cool thing at {Courtney Lane Designs}. She has the hex codes, or html codes, for all the Close To My Heart colors. You can enter that below the custom color picker. So you can even figure out coloring when you are doing the mock ups. You can even do a print then cut image and have it match the colors perfectly. 

I hope you enjoyed today's project. Next in this hop is {Jennifer Dykstra}.

You can pick up this stamp set for $5 with qualifying purchase. Or jump on this months special.

You can get the stamp of the month for free, or your choice of hostess rewards stamps for $5, when you purchase $25 in stamps. The hostess reward option is a great offer, since normally you can only get these when you are a hostess of a gathering.
Don't wait, this special and the sotm are only available for the month of July.

If you would to like to recreate any of my projects, you can order the materials at {nikkageers.ctmh.com}.

If you would like to check out my tutorials, visit my {tutorial page}.

To make sure you don't miss out on any new tutorials, artwork, videos or members only specials, as it is easy to miss posts on Facebook and I don't post to all of them, join my {Facebook group}.

Subscribe to my {Youtube Channel} for updates on new Create Your Card videos.

I offer one on one classes for Cricut Design Space. Stop by for more {details}.

Recipe:

Stamps -

   S1507  Life Is Wonderful

   C1605  Happy To Be Friends

   D1630  Curlicue Alphabet (Artfully Sent Only) 

Paper -

   1385  White Daisy Cardstock

   1246  Hollyhock Cardstock

   X5760  Cotton Candy Cardstock

   X5773  Pixie Cardstock

   X5929  Whisper Cardstock

   X254  Cards and Envelopes

Ink -

   Z2172  Whisper Ink Pad

Other -

   Z2013  Silver Sequins

   Z1906  Artbooking Cricut Cartridge

   Z3017  Artfully Sent Cricut Cartridge

   

Technical difficulties

I apologize for the minimal posting. My computer is on the fritz and unable to make any videos or tutorial at the moment. I ordered some ram, and hopefully that will do the trick. I will be back as soon as I can. Until then, check out my videos and tutorials. They can be found {here}

Let Them Eat Cake at Heart 2 Heart

wrrereeee

Welcome. We have a new challenge for you over at {Heart 2 Heart}

  

This week is all about cake.

If you have seen some of my projects before, I love to use cakes as inspirations.  I get them at {CakeWrecks.com}  Now normally this site does what it says, show funny wrecks of professional cakes. But every Sunday they showcase beautiful, artful cakes. Which is where I get my inspiration. When I was told about this challenge, I knew I had a few steampunk cakes I was itching to do. 

If you have no idea what steampunk is, it is a cross between Victorian / Edwardian and 1900 technology. So it's a lot of lace and corsets and metal and gears. If you still don't quite understand, think Wild Wild West, the one with Will Smith. I have a whole board with steampunk ideas. You can even find smash ups with steampunk. Like steampunk Ariel, or steampunk Darth Vader. 

So back to my project. 

 

 I chose to use this steampunk cake. It is one of my favorites I have pinned. Simple yet awesome. You can find the {pin} here.

I used gears that can be found on Artiste cartridge. (#M3F34A, #M3B7A2). And the butterfly is from Art Philosophy (#M3EACD). Normally the metal used in steampunk is copper, but I did not have any copper ink, paper or embossing powder. So I had to use what I had. So I mixed silver and gold to make my own mix. It was hard to get the coloring right on the photo. But it looks cool. I got the hammered look by overheating the embossing powder until it started to bubble. It was hard to get that look consistently, so some are only half textured. Be careful, you do not want to burn the paper. Especially if you will be seeing the paper. It turns brown and ruins the paper.

Another detail you can't see in the photo is that I copied the embossed lines on the cake. I used a tool used in sewing to transfer pattern lines onto your fabric. It kinda looks like the gears. Gives the same look as it does on the cake. (side note, it it hard to spell gears right when you last name is Geers. I don't know how many times I had to go back and spell them right)

I hope you enjoyed my project for you today. We would love if you were to join us at {Heart 2 Heart}. Remember, you must use some Close To My Heart product to play along. If you don't have any, you can order some at {nikkageers.ctmh.com}. And then come back to play. You have all month long to play along with all of the months challenges.

If you would like to check out my other tutorials, visit my {tutorial page}.

To make sure you don't miss out on any new tutorials, artwork, videos or members only specials, as it is easy to miss posts on Facebook and I don't post to all of them, join my {Facebook group}.

Subscribe to my {Youtube Channel} for updates on new Create Your Card videos.

I offer one on one classes for Cricut Design Space. Stop by for more {details}

.If you would to like to recreate any of my projects, you can order the materials at {nikkageers.ctmh.com}.

Recipe:

Stamps -

   C1605  Happy To Be Friends

Paper -

   1388  Colonial White Cardstock

   1385  White Daisy Cardstock

   X1410  Colonial White Cards And Envelopes

Ink -

   Z2130  Indian Corn Blue Ink Pad

   Z891  Versamark Ink Pad

   Versamark Pen (non CTMH)

Other -

   Z2067  Silver Embossing Powder

   Z2066  Gold Embossing Powder

   Z1686  Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge

   Z1790   Artiste Cricut Cartrdige

   Z555  Craft Heater

Create Your Card - Create A Double Diecut Card

 Welcome back for a new video.  This week I will be showing how to a double diecut.

This technique is another one that I have seen using metal diecuts. And of course I had to figure out how you can do this Design Space.

 Use two rectangles to make there window for the shaker. I sized one at 5.5 x 4.25 and the smaller at 4 x 2.75.

Choose your font. You want this font to be bold and chunky. I used Close To My Heart Artiste font and changed to bold. Use letter spacing to move the letters closer. If you can't get them to overlap how you want, separate the letters.

Once you have your words overlapping the way you want, weld together.

Add you second text. I am using Close To My Heart Art Philosophy font. Line up so you can still read the main text. You may have to change the size to achieve this. Make sure to duplicate and slice.

 Line up the text and weld. Remember to overlap so it is one piece.

  I used image #M3F34A for the gears. I sized them at .5 inches. When I cut this small or detailed, I use intricate cut cardstock custom setting.

Subscribe to my {Youtube Channel} for updates on new Create Your Card videos.

I hope you enjoyed today's video. Come back next week for a brand new video.

If you would like to check out my other tutorials, visit my {tutorial page}.

To make sure you don't miss out on any new tutorials, artwork, videos or members only specials, as it is easy to miss posts on Facebook and I don't post to all of them, join my {Facebook group}.

I offer one on one classes for Cricut Design Space. Stop by for more {details}.

If you would to like to recreate any of my projects, you can order the materials at {nikkageers.ctmh.com}.

Recipe:

Stamps -

   B1419  Joyful Birthday

Paper -

   X254  Cards And Envelopes

   1385  White Daisy Cardstock

   X5930  Slate Cardstock

   X7195B  Jackson Paper Pack

   Acetate

Ink -

   White StazOn Ink Pad

Other -

   Z1790  Artiste Cricut Cartridge

   Z1686  Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge

   Z1151  3D Foam Tape

   Z679  Liquid Glass

Military Father's Day Mini Album

Have a new mini album for you today. Say Father's Day for your Military dad. 9 decorated pages and one cover page to write your notes. 4 x 4 pages fit your school pictures or instagram pictures. Small enough for him to carry in his uniform where ever he goes.

Mini Album is $15 plus shipping. Limited albums available so get your today. Email me at {nikkageers@gmail.com}

Check out my {Disney mini album}

To make sure you don't miss out on any new tutorials, artwork, videos or members only specials, as it is easy to miss posts on Facebook and I don't post to all of them, join my {Facebook group}.

Subscribe to my {Youtube Channel} for updates on new Create Your Card videos.

I offer one on one classes for Cricut Design Space. Stop by for more {details}.

If you would to like to recreate any of my projects, you can order the materials at {nikkageers.ctmh.com}.

Around The World at Heart 2 Heart

Welcome to this weeks challenge at {Heart 2 Heart}

I knew immediately what I want to do. I wanted to scrap about Matt being in Korea. I was going to cut out the state and country from my Explore. I did this like my home is where they send us sign. Except I used the whole image, not an outline. 

Tho I knew what I wanted to do, I still needed to figure out the layout. This was the first image in Pinterest. Had the exact layout I was looking for. I still feel like it's missing something tho.

The font is Paper Lace 1, which is part of the subscription. The tab is image #M3D2CD.

Here is the {pin}

Here is how I made the state / country.

 I uploaded the state and also the map with the exact location I wanted. Size them so they are the same. I am using a star for my location.

 Place the map over the image.

Add the start over the location.

Select the map and delete. Do not move the star at all.

Once you get rid of the map, the star would be in the exact spot you need. Select all and attach.

I hope you enjoyed today project. We would love for you to play along with us at {Heart 2 Heart}. You have all month to play along. You do need to use some Close To My Heart product. If you need some, place an order, then come back to play.

If you would like to check out my other tutorials, visit my {tutorial page}.

To make sure you don't miss out on any new tutorials, artwork, videos or members only specials, as it is easy to miss posts on Facebook and I don't post to all of them, join my {Facebook group}.

Subscribe to my {Youtube Channel} for updates on new Create Your Card videos.

I offer one on one classes for Cricut Design Space. Stop by for more {details}

.If you would to like to recreate any of my projects, you can order the materials at {nikkageers.ctmh.com}.

Recipe:

Paper -

   1385  White Daisy Cardstock

   X5930 Slate Cardstock

   X5759  Pacifica Cardstock

   Z7191B  Wanderful Paper Pack

   1291  Smokey Plum Cardstock

   Retired -

      Crusin'

      Dreamin'

      Buzz And Bumble

Ink -

   Z1979  Journaling Pen

Other -

   Z2010  Enamel Stars

   Z1921  Bakers Twine

   Z1471  Ruler

   Z2046  Piercing & Embossing Tool Kit

   Z3010  Wanderful Assortment

   Z1906  Artbooking Cricut Cartridge

Special - My Crush Blog Hop

Hello. Welcome to a special blog hop. Close To My Heart is doing a special with the My Crush books. Buy the book and coordinating embellishments and you get the coordinating stamp set free.

Like always, our hops go in a circle. So just keep hopping until you get back where you started. If you do not start here, you will be coming from {Jenny Gilbert}. Next in the hop is {Lilian Forsyth}

My Crush books are 10 x 7 in books with pattern paper where you can quickly put photos and journaling without making your own scrapbook. They are great for vacations or birthdays where you take a lot of photos but don't want to try to fit them all on a scrapbook page. They are so easy, you can do them in the car driving home.

 I am using My Crush Bluebird book. I have had this since it cam out last year but never did anything with it. I do have the coordinating assortment for this book, but did not use them in these projects, nor the stamp set.

You are probably wondering why I am showing you the cover of the book. Doesn't look like I did anything. Remember when I said they are 10 x 7? I cut my book in half. Really. 

I wanted to make more like a journal  / daily planner but I didn't want to use the whole book for just one project. 

I used a box cutter and a straight edge and just kept going over it until it was cut all the way through. This does leave a raw edge, but it doesn't bother me. You could always paint the edge. I used wire cutters to cut the binding in half.

I used my Explore to cut out page dividers. I used image #M428EB and welded to a square.

Here is a better look. I used washi tape to label them for two reasons. First, I chose the darkest pages for my dividers because it was hard to see the writing. Second, I can always change what the section is for. Normally my hand writing looks better than that. Today was just a bad handwriting day.

 One thing I did come across was depending on which part I used, there was a little extra on top or the bottom.  If you look at the picture, you will see what I mean. The zebra print has the extra on top, but the left page has it on the bottom. You can always go through and trim them to be even, but I really didn't care.

Because I used the existing pages to make the dividers, I had to cut down the sheets so I could see the dividers. I cut the pages down by .75 of an inch. I also cut all of my pages in half .
Here is a trick I want to share with you. When you are cutting a lot of the same sizes, use a piece of washi tape to mark the measurements. That way you will always have the right size with left work.

I had all these .75 inch left overs so I had to do something with them. I wanted to also to do a scrapbook page but ran out of time. 

I made this card using those scraps. I took a heart (#M46EAC) and changed the sizes to .7, .5 and .3 and staggered them to make an overlay. Then glued those pieces to the back side and adhered to a card base. This hides the crazy mess of scraps on the back. I was going to add a sentiment, but again, ran out of time. 

I hope you enjoyed my projects. Next in the hop is {Lilian Forsyth}

To make sure you don't miss out on any new tutorials, artwork, videos or members only specials, as it is easy to miss posts on Facebook and I don't post to all of them, join my {Facebook group}.

Subscribe to my {Youtube Channel} for updates on new Create Your Card videos.

I offer one on one classes for Cricut Design Space. Stop by for more {details}.

If you would to like to recreate any of my projects, you can order the materials at {nikkageers.ctmh.com}.

Recipes :

Daily Planner

Other-

   Z1856  My Crush Bluebird Book

   Z3066  Boardwalk Washi Pack

   Z1686  Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge

Scraps Heart Card

   Paper - 

   1385  White Daisy Cardstock

   X254  Cards And Envelopes

Other-

   Z1856  My Crush Bluebird Book

   Z1686 Art Philosophy Cricut Cartrdige

Disney Mini Album

My Disney kit is here. It comes with a mini album that has 10 double sided page protectors. . Includes a mix of 4 x 6 and 4 x 3 pages. Comes with premade pages you just insert along with you photos.

Includes the following pages, as well as 2 large and small pages.

Kit is $25, plus shipping. Limited kits available so order yours now.

Email me at nikkageers@gmail.com to place your order. More kits will be available soon

Create Your Card - Create A Selective Stamping Card

Hello. Back with a new Create Your Card video for you today. This week I am showing you how to do selective stamping.

This technique involves masking to get the image you want. 

Here is my {Faux Stitching Tutorial} for how to do the stitched panel. 

I forgot to mention in the video, but I am using Snowhaven Paper from Close To My Heart. The measurements for this card is as follows:

Background 4.25 x 5.5, White Stitched Panel 2.5 x 4.25, and banner .75 x 5.

Here is how to have the Explore cut out the masked images.

I had to use another truck because the stamped truck wouldn't let me weld.

Place you images how you want them and weld.

Then just line up you stamps and there you go.

I hope you enjoyed the video. come back next week for a brand new video.

 Subscribe to my {YouTube Channel} for updates on new Create Your Card videos.

If you would like to check out my other tutorials, visit my {tutorial page}.

To make sure you don't miss out on any new tutorials, artwork, videos or members only specials, as it is easy to miss posts on Facebook and I don't post to all of them, join my {Facebook group}.

I offer one on one classes for Cricut Design Space. Stop by for more {details}.

If you would to like to recreate any of my projects, you can order the materials at {nikkageers.ctmh.com}.

Recipe:

Stamps -

   S1506  Ice Cream Dreams

   D1613  Best Christmas

   D1617  Make It Merry

Paper-

   X254  Cards And Envelopes

   1385  White Daisy Cardstock

   X7188B  Snowhaven Paper Pack

Ink -

   Z2105  Black Ink Pad

   Z2155  Topiary Ink Pad

   Z2446  Black ShinHan Marker

   Z2448  Carmine ShinHan Marker

   Z2467  Warm Grey ShinHan Marker

   Z2465  Turquoise ShinHan Marker

Cricut Explore Tutorial - Faux Stitching

I love the look of these new dies that have a faux stitch along the border. So of course I had to figure out how to do this in Design Space.

It shows up a little more in person, but looks beautiful.

 So let me show you how.

 The main component in this is the score line. You can do this on any shape, although doing rounded shapes or circles take a bit more work for placement. For this tutorial I will be using a rectangle. You can find both of these when you click insert shapes.

 Change the height of the score line. If you want longer stitches, make it little longer. I found .1 was perfect for me.

 Click on the score line in layers and choose cut instead of score.

Then start duplicating. I do about 3. We will be doing more later.

You will need to distribute vertically and also center horizontally. This will give you an even stitch.

Now the quickest way to make the line is to copy and paste. Duplicate will change the position so copy and paste is important. Keep doing this until you get the size you want. While doing this, keep using the center and distribute option to keep even and lined up.

 Once you get the amount you want, select and attach. You can always detach if you need to change anything.

Once you place your stitching on your image, remember to select all and attach. If you don't, your stitching will not cut on the image.

How awesome is this? I do recommend saving just the stitching so you can open it up later and not have to go through the steps again. Also do a single stitch, it comes in handy. You will be able to detach to add more or take off.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial.

If you would like to check out my other tutorials, visit my {tutorial page}.

To make sure you don't miss out on any new tutorials, artwork, videos or members only specials, as it is easy to miss posts on Facebook and I don't post to all of them, join my {Facebook group}.

Subscribe to my {Youtube Channel} for updates on new Create Your Card videos.

I offer one on one classes for Cricut Design Space. Stop by for more {details}.

If you would to like to recreate any of my projects, you can order the materials at {nikkageers.ctmh.com}.