Baby Boy Gift

A sweet friend of mine had her baby last week.  They decorated his room in a Western Theme and I started playing around with my Cricut.  I used "Old West" cartridge and this is what happened;

She and her hubby are both Texas A&M grads and "Howdy" has special meaning for Aggies.  All items in the frame are cut from "Old West" except the Texas shape ("50 States") and Nash ("Noah's ABC Animals").
The frame is from Hobby Lobby and was exactly what I had in mind.

I had made a baby card when I first heard that they were expecting a boy, but it wasn't in the Western theme, so I got to work doing another one.

The background is embossed using the Tim Holtz Woodgrain folder.  "Welcome Baby" is from a Cuttlebug Embossing Combo of the same name.  The cute little cowboy was from The Angel Company "Wild West" rubber stamp as was the "Cowboy Up" (from a different TAC set).  He is colored using Copic markers.

These will go in the mail tomorrow to Leander, Texas.

Sizzix Pop 'n Cuts to Flip Flop Card

I love the Sizzix's Pop 'n Cut card dies!  I have several in my "collection" including the June release of Karen Burninston's Label Window, 3D #658372.  I use it with my Pop 'n Cut card base from Stampin Up.

I made this card following the photos and video at http://karenburniston.typepad.com/i_am_not_lefthanded/page/2/

Again, the base is from Stampin Up and I added double sided cardstock to fill in the openings in the back of the card.  The stamps are from my stash and rhinestones are ones that I picked up a the scrapbook convention last month.

Since it is nice to be able to do more than one type of card with any one tool, I found (quite by accident) that I could also make a Flip Flop card using the same die.  Here is my tutorial for it.

Place the die insert in the base.

 Line up the Marks on the insert with those on the base.

 This is how it will look after it is cut and the middle pieces are removed.

Fold the card in half at the 5 1/2" mark.  It isn't necessary to score it as there are fold marks on the cardstock.

 At the center of the label, fold the top back and burnish.  It will look like this:

 Now cut 1" off of the right edge of the card.

With the card folded, place it in the cutter so that the front of the card is down and cut the card to 5 1/2".

 If desired, round the corners.

 Cut double sided cardstock to 4 1/4" by 2 1/4" and apply adhesive to the back side of the card as shown below.  I placed my silicone sheet inside the card to keep any adhesive from sticking my card closed.

 Add the double sided cardstock to the back of the card.

With the card opened, stamp the front of the card.

 I stamped the inside of the label with butterflies that I stamped off first to give it a lighter shading before I added the "...flutter by oh butterflies..." sentiment.  I chose a Birthday Blessings stamp that would hide beneath the label when the card closes.

 I cut more cardstock in the die to cover the front left side of the card.

 And butterflies from Stampin Up's Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die layered with a Martha Stewart Butterfly punch.  The center of the butterflies are embellished the rhinestones that I purchased at the scrapbook convention.  The two purple flower embellishments were found there, too. 

Here is the finished card.  Note that the label "flips" to reveal a message on this card whereas on the original card, the front of the label popped over and was seen both from the front and inside the card.

Thank you for looking.  If you have any questions or comments, please let me know.  This is my first attempt   to do a tutorial on my blog.  I wasn't brave enough to attempt to do a video one and besides, I didn't have a camera assistant available.