Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Happy Birthday Dejah and Carousel Rubber Stamps

Feel free to just go check out the pretty pictures, but if you're curious how this came about by all means read on... ;)

My cricut has really taken over my cutting/crafting time since I got my Art Philosophy cartridge and since I added the Artiste one to my collection well it's been even more so.

The fact that I teach cricut classes has really been my excuse for using it so much and ignoring my poor KNK Groove and my craftrobo.

 I did use my craftrobo when I did my couisins baby announcements (more on those in another post) because of the ease of the print and cut feature on it. My KNK Groove got used a little when I did some vinyl text for a business for their vehicle.

 Well... Carousel Rubber Stamps where I teach most of my cricut classes at was celebrating their 18th birthday and the owner, Dejah's birthday is the same week as the store (we'll just say she was 29 again). ;) They hold demo days every month where the staff and guest instructors go in and demonstrate different products or techniques and on the weekend around the stores birthday they always have a larger demo day with cake and extra special make n takes and lots of fun to be had!! In addition this year they took all the cards that were brought in for the birthday of the store into a draw for a gift certificate. Of course I saw this as the perfect opportunity to use my software cutters. I really wanted the card to somehow symbolize the store and the fun had there, so I found a site that has PDF eBooks of pop up card patterns, one of which was a 3D carousel or merry-go-round. Perfect!!

I purchased the eBook and opened my funtime software to import the PDF only to discover that it was a secured PDF and funtime would not import it... grrrrrrr..... oh well.. KNK Studio to the rescue!! I opened KNK Studio and imported it no problem! :) After cleaning up the file a little bit here and there I cut out the 28 pieces required to assemble the carousel. In case at this point you're wondering what site I got the file from it was amazingpopup.com .

I used my gold pen to edge every piece in gold and then put it all together (took quite a while to really figure it out as I somehow had it backwards to what it should have been using the directions and had to take it all apart and do it again). I then realized I hadn't really paid any attention to the size of this template as sized how it is in the ebook you would need a card that was 8 1/4" x 7 with the fold being on the 8 1/4" side, this means you'd need 14" paper for your card base... (at least if you wanted it to actually be hidden inside thast is). Oh well, my gold pen made a bit of a mess on the first one anyways (note to self use this pen more often or it doesn't work properly right away)... resized the template and cut to fit a card 6 1/2" x 5 1/4"  much better. I also used thicker cardstock this time so the pieces were a little more durable.

Now nobody worry, my son quickly claimed the first one after all the work I spent on it to display on his table in his room as "Mommy, I don't like this card... I love it!"

Okay so, second one complete, card base cut, decorate front of card, go to decorate the inside... gold pen explosion everywhere!! 1 year old daughter awakens from her nap, I bring her out sand of course she immediately puts her hands in the gold pen explosion and starts making pretty handprints all over!! Thank goodness for rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle as I was able to clean the floor quickly this way, and spray a paper towel to use to clean her up.

I look at the clock and ACK!!! the store is closing and my card isn't over there yet. Quick call to the store to make sure they're still there and she assures me that there are still a few people there at the store so they will be a little while longer there. I look at my blank inside of the card (with the exception of my 3D carousel) and sigh as there is no way I have time to decorate the inside with gold ink and some stamps now (considering I have no idea where the stamps I would think to use on it are at the moment).. Oh well, hopefully noone will notice as they'll be distracted by the carousel right?!?!

If you made it through all that wow, thanks for your patience and I seriously hope the laugh at my disaster was worth all that reading. LOL

Without further ado... here is what I came up with:



oh and yes you caught me... I did use my cricut and the new Artiste cricut cartridge and stamps that come bundled with it for the Happy Birthday banner sentiment. 

and a few different shots of the inside:

see my blank inside around it?? :(


..and from the top


What do you think? I  have to say I LOVED this one!! It won't be one I'll ever mass produce as it was VERY time consuming but as a stunning card for a very special person I will definitely do this again.

Happy Birthday Dejah and Carousel Rubber Stamps!!

42 comments:

  1. Love it!!! Could I be the "very special person"? :)

    TFS

    Lucy
    http://love2createitall.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm pretty sure you qualify for that Lucy! :)I have made a few cards to send you but never get the nerve to put it in the mail because I just didn't think it was good enough. This would actually get mailed though.

      Delete
  2. does mass producing count making one for me and Lucy ? This is outstanding work - I don't know that I would have the patience !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL no Liz mass producing for me would be like when I make my 200 Christmas cards every year... besides Queen Liz should get whatever she requests right?? Especially when she keeps me smiling all the time with her witty comments.

      Delete
  3. this is absolutely awesome Darla. it would take me forever to do it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tammy, thank you. It was very time consuming but well worth the result

      Delete
  4. If I hadn't heard most of the story in process of making this card I would be busting a gut, however,I felt your struggle with the kids and the sizing so all I will do is chuckle. As for the finished product, simply amazing, stunning, super!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Michelle. :) I knew you would appreciate that if no one else. LOL

      Delete
  5. Beautiful carousel, Darla! Thanks so much for sharing all that hard work...

    ReplyDelete
  6. OMG!!! Well, like Dejah, I'm 29...several times again...but I've never lost my love and awe of a carousel!!!!! This is absolutely beautiful...if I could import it and cut with my Gazelle...I think I would do it...but...not to give away!!! LOL I'd keep it and display it someway!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If I figure out how to import it into funtime (same as gazelle software) right from the secured PDF I will let you know. I would share my file that I made with you (as I can easily convert from KNK to WPC except it would go against the copyright as it was a purchased eBook.

      Delete
    2. Oh, sure, I wouldn't ask you to!! ;o) So, are you saying you just save the file, and then open funtime, select import (pdf...) just like if you were importing a jpg or something? I do that some...thanks!!!

      Delete
    3. yup. that's pretty much it, or you can actually just navigate to where your PDF file and just drag it from your windows explorer screen and drop it on your funtime window and it will start the import that way too.. Except when I tried it with this particular file it didn't work in funtime and I assume it's because it was a secured PDF. I was however able to import it into knk studio and then export from there as an ai file which I then imported to funtime.

      Sorry for the crazy delay in reply Pat I didn't see your 2nd comment until today. Feel free to email me for more info though. :) darlamcc at gmail dot com

      Delete
  7. Love it, so beautiful. thanks for sharing.
    Diana

    ReplyDelete
  8. Wow, a lot of time and love went into that. Beautiful!
    angel hugs
    Debby

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Debby. The owner of the store has helped me out with my crafting many many times and has become a good friend over the years so it was nice putting it together for her knowing she would appreciate the intricacy of it.

      Delete
  9. wow Darla! Your carousel is outstanding! I used to collect carousels and I think I will have to reproduce yours!
    Hugs,
    Georgia

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good luck! It wasn't nearly as difficult the second time. The instructions are a little hard to follow though so if you decide to try it and run into trouble just let me know and I will see if I can lend a hand.

      Delete
  10. Oh, Darla! How beautiful! I so appreciate all the work to get it done! And the chuckle over your minor catastrophe! Thank you. Lol! Love you, Honey!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Trisha. :) I thought some might just get a little laugh at it. I know I was annoyed at the time but had a giggle at it myself shortly afterwards.
      <3

      Delete
  11. I just tried to access amazingpopups.com and got a page for an advanced driving course. Maybe they've been hacked?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There is now "s" on the end. Try this link instead http://amazingpopup.com/index.html

      Also, you should go through the comments on your blog and delete the spam ones. I went there and was going to send you a reply via comment to ensure you'd get it but it looks like your blog has been attacked with spam unfortunately so I didn't comment there. You can turn your comments on moderated so you have to approve them before they appear, or even put a captcha code in so people have to prove they aren't a computer first before commenting to help with that.

      Delete
  12. This is so stunning - wow. Love it. TFS and thanks for the link to a fabulous website.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Beautiful! I admire your patience!

    Kim

    ReplyDelete
  14. Darla, that carousel is awesome! If your making extras I want one!! lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Debbie.
      I'll add you to the list in case the urge to make as bunch suddenly overwhelms me. ;)

      Delete
  15. Beautiful! You did an awesome carousel! Thank you so much for sharing.

    ReplyDelete


  
Get widget