Christmas in July - Cardinal Christmas Cards

Hello, Connie Nichol here with a couple of Christmas cards I created with Suzanne Cannon's Cardinal Christmas cut file available in the Silhouette Design Store.   There's nothing like making Christmas cards in the middle of summer - it's actually pretty fun!

The cut file is so beautiful it doesn't need a lot of embellishments and is very quick to cut and create.  Try cutting the bird and the backgrounds out of different colours of cardstock.  I made 6 x 6" cards, but the cardinal also fits on a 5 x 7 card base.  This yellow bird reminds me of a goldfinch and it makes a nice change from traditional Christmas colours.  I added 'berries' with Ranger Enamel Accents, but you could glue on a few beads or embellish the branches with a little bit of glitter glue.

Here's the Christmas Cardinal cut out of more traditional colours.  He is very striking.  I am not sure which bird I like best.  Do you have a favourite?, I am going to remember this cut file for when I need a beautiful bird to accent a scrapbook layout.  It would make an awesome blue bird!  Have a great July, Connie

Watermelon Tote with Tag- Happy birthday

Hi Y'all

Robyn here with a 3D summer cooler!

Watermelon Tote

On the Mat

•  Cut the elements.Use a heavy weight card for the base. Cut an extra base if you want to hide the tabs inside.

• Adhere all the layers to the base.

• Fold all the perforated score lines. 

• Apply strong double-sided adhesive- Elizabeth Craft Designs to the tabs.***TIP*** Place the tape on waste please paper to make it easier to handle while cutting the small pieces.

• Form the tote by adhering the tab at the side first. Burnish well and place a weight on it for a few minutes.
• Place a tape runner inside to preform the curved sides. Let that sit for a few minutes.

• Remove the tape’s release paper on one side of the tabs on the base. 

• Align the point on the base with the side seam and work your way around to the other point by 

pushing the tabs against the base. Work with one hand inside pushing the tabs into the correct position. 

• Remove the release paper on the other side and repeat until all the tabs are in place and secure. 
• Layer the leaf tag and stamp your sentiment. Happy Birthday/ A way with Words/Eliazbeth Craft Designs
• Attach to the tote with ribbon or twine. 
• Create dimension on the seeds with glossy accents.

Fill your gift tote and give to someone special!

For more watermelon themed files visit 
watermelon box

Personalize a Card with Monogram Fonts

Although Monogram Fonts aren’t designed for creating text, they can be really fun to personalize a card! Many of my monogram fonts start with my basic Italic Capitals which I use for teaching calligraphy and this technique works especially well if the basic letterforms are the same in different fonts. It helps make the fonts interchangeable and easy to read when you mix and match them.
Here is how you can make an awesome card or nameplate!  If you are receiving this as an email update, click here to watch the video on YouTube.

Thanks for watching!  What will you do with your monogram fonts?!

Find the fonts here:

Unicorn Monogram Font:
https://www.silhouettedesignstore.com/view-shape/269524
http://www.quietfiredesign.ca/Unicorn-Monogram-Font-507.html

Simple Flourished Leaf Monogram Font:
https://www.silhouettedesignstore.com/view-shape/267374

Kittyland Monogram Font:
http://www.quietfiredesign.ca/Kittyland-Monogram-Font-512.html
https://www.silhouettedesignstore.com/view-shape/270002

Sweet Bow Monogram Font:
https://www.silhouettedesignstore.com/view-shape/268922
http://www.quietfiredesign.ca/Sweet-Bow-Monogram-Font-514.html

Butterfly Monogram Font:
https://www.silhouettedesignstore.com/view-shape/271015
http://www.quietfiredesign.ca/Butterfly-Monogram-Font-509.html

Dragonfly Monogram Font:
https://www.silhouettedesignstore.com/view-shape/271014
http://www.quietfiredesign.ca/Dragonfly-Monogram-Font-511.html

Snowflake - Country Plank - Winter Ice - May Your Heart

Yogi here today with a center split easel card... Suzanne asked the design team to create some Xmas cards this month so here is my first one of the year. BIG GRIN.

I'm using a quote stamp on the floor from Quietfire Design ("May Your Heart...");

These are the electronic cut files I'm using from Suzanne available on Silhouette. Click image to purchase. The OTF fonts Suzanne is coming out with work great in emails, Word, Excel etc. and I'm using it in my Sure Cuts A Lot (SCAL) software - love them

 

And the digi paper from Suzanne available on Quietfire Design:

 

Printed the snowflake paper both on 110# white cardstock and a no brand calligraphy practice paper I love that is a bit thicker than normal printer paper.
Opened SCAL software, activated the font key and typed the words "Merry Christmas". 

Opened the Snowflake box and removed everything except the snowflake, resized it to 2.5" and cut from the printed cardstock. Then printed a shadow layer of the snowflake from the deep blue cardstock and adhered both together.

Scored and folded my card structure (see diagram at below). Cut deep blue cardstock to 7"w x 10"h. Score along the 10" side to create a top fold 5". Cut the side panels 1"w by 5"long (to the center score line...). Now score the the center piece that is 5"w x 5"h in half, scoring at the 2.5"h. Cut a piece of snowflake cardstock 4.75"w x 4.75"h and adhere to the bottom scored section. (see pics at bottom of page, you'll see the snowflake cardstock is only adhered to the lower section of the fold)

Adhered the snowflake to the left edge.

Sponged some dark blue Distress (Faded Jeans) around the edges of each letter, then adhered. Since this is cut in the same paper as the background and usually placed so it blends into the background - the technique seems to be being called "Eclipse Technique". I like it...

On the floor: Cut strips of the snowflake paper to cover the side panels and the floor (2pieces - .75" x 4.75" and  1 piece 4.75"w x 4.75"h), adhered to appropriate sections. Adhered the right panel to the floor.

Adhered only the outside edge and front edge of the left panel to the floor creating a pocket for the gift card.
Used my stamping Platform to stamp the quote using Versafine "Majestic Blue" and clear embossing. Used a Liquid Pearls "White Opal" and applied dots on the berry sprig.

Adhered 3 white snowflake buttons using hot glue to act as my stopper and adhered a small blue ribbon bow with hot glue.

 

4th of July Star box

Hi Y'all!

Robyn here 

 with a seasonal file with multiple uses- hostess gift, table decor, silent Auction item

(You know they ask you!)

Party Favor, Cake topper?

On the Mat
4th of July Star Box

These long pieces are the sides of the box.
Fold on all the score lines.

Use a strong adhesive-Elizabeth Craft Designs double sided, one point at a time.

Begin with the side without the tab, adding adhesive as you go, place carefully before you press down.
This tape is forever!

Placing a guideline before you stick down the adhesive is helpful.

The liner piece will cover all the marks.

All glued in place

Liner in place

Why will you hide inside?

Enjoy whatever you celebrate! Be Free!

Comments and Questions always welcomed!

Canada Day, Eh?

Hello, Connie Nichol here today with a Canada Day scrapbook layout featuring the Oh Canada dingbat font designed by Suzanne Cannon and available in the Silhouette Design Store.

If you're not familiar with dingbat fonts, they are similar to other fonts except that shapes and symbols take the place of what would normally be letters.  You download the font, double click and select install, and your computer adds it to your font library.  This Oh Canada font features 26 Canadian icons to print or cut - here are some of them.  Absolutely perfect for Canada Day, and of course you can make them any size or colour that you want.  

After installing the font, I cut the title Canada eh? and a handful of other shapes out with my Silhouette Cameo.  I am particularly enamored with the moose.  Such a beautiful silhouette!  With the variety of Canada themed dingbats available in this font, you really don't need any other embellishment.  Just pick your favourites, cut them out and use them to adorn your Canada themed photographs.  Happy Canada Day!!  Hope you all get out and enjoy it.

P.S.  I had saved my volunteer badge and lanyard from last year, so I added that memorabilia as well.

   

Coffee or Tea Dingbat Font- Coffee and Friends are the perfect blend.

Hi Y'all!

Robyn here on vacation this week, so I made two cards last week, using the same files and 

New Stamps

to show you the versatility you get with each purchase from

Quietfire Design 
and
Suzanne's Silhouette Store

The shaped card is created from the
Coffee or Tea? Dingbat Font

On the mat

Install the font and you get 26 designs to cut, sketch, whatever !

Design mat

Hints:

• Make several copies of each image so if you mess up modifying  you have another one handy
• use text to mark images you want to save, identify. 
• Set the text in the image to "no cut" right away so you don't forget!
• Have fun, mix and match, modify and see what happens! It's only on the screen.
• Cut out dummies with copy paper to make models to see if you like it before using the good paper and vinyl.

New Stamps

But first coffee

Lots of new files and stamps yet to share, so please come back often!

More inspiration to be found at Quietfire Creations-keep your eyes peeled for upcoming designer challenges!

Comments and Questions Welcomed