A Cut Above, Part Two, Day 8

The last lesson in the "A Cut Above" class was a doozie, and I put off completing it for a week. It wasn't as hard to do as I thought. 

I stamped the Hero Arts "Flower Corsage" on white card stock and colored it black. The circle is a 1.5 inch punch to help me scale the stamped image once I've scanned it and opened it in the Silhouette software. I used the "Trace" and "Offset" features in the software to get the cut lines just right.

Once the cuts were made, I used my stamp-a-ma-jig to stamp the image on my perfectly cut paper!

This machine and the software are amazing!

A Cut Above, Part Two, Day 7

Day 7!! Only one more lesson to complete! Actually, each lesson had multiple tricks, and I typically focused on one in each lesson. I'm glad I have lifetime access to the class!

This card was made using the print and cut feature of the Silhouette. Every element on the card was made using the Silhouette software, except the dashed lines around the edge. The star shape is the only element I used from my Silhouette library. 

I'm also entering this card for Operation Write Home's "Use a Die" challenge for NSD. It's not one of my better cards, but I'm pretty excited that I was able to use all the tricks for this lesson! I'm learning!!

I know it will make a terrific "Any Hero" card. I've not written as many as I should. Time to fix that!

Silhouette Studio software

Neenah card stock - white

SU card stock - basic gray (card base)

Signo white pigment ink pen

A Cut Above, Part Two, Day 6

"Designing with Text" was the challenge for day six. I used the Lobster font, one of my favorites.

This also goes with the OWH second challenge "Use something you've been hoarding." I hoard patterned paper. I'm determined to wipe out this pack this weekend!

I closer look. I layered three "Thanks" to give it a bit of bulk.

Echo Park "A Walk in the Park" 6x6 paper pad

Die shapes from Silhouette library

A Cut Above, Part Two, Day 5

I used my Silhouette to create a mask for this card. Our assignment was, "Jazz up your Silhouette die cuts," and this was one of the ideas in the lesson.

This card also fits into the paper piecing challenge on the Stars and Stamps blog. Operation Write Home is celebrating National Scrapbook Day by making cards. Rebels, indeed.

This sentiment should say, "When times are tough, your sister-in-law and nephew are your umbrella." This morning I discovered the power wasn't working in the basement. Long story short, 2 chest freezers had to be removed and cleaned and lots of water from the AC had to be mopped. Many thanks to my sister-in-law and my nephew for all the help!

Here's the template I made for the raindrops. I cut it on Inkadinkado masking paper.

My Favorite Things Die-namics "Umbrella&Stamp Set"

Echo Park "A Walk in the Park" 6x6 paper pad

SnapDragon Snippets, LLC (Silhouette) "Rainy Day Background"

A Cut Above, Part 2, Day 4

I'm trying to catch up!! Friday is the last day of this Online Card Class, and my card today is from Monday's class, "Print and Cut." I spend way too much time looking at all the selections in the Silhouette Online Store. Anyway, here's a clean and simple card.

I need to pick up some good paper for the "print and cut" option. The paper I used is pretty flimsy, but it will do for now.

Valerie Foster, Silhouette store - birds

K&Co. and Target - washi tape

Neenah - card stock

Hero Arts - "Sky's the Limit" sentiment

A Cut Above, Part Two, Day 3

Day three of this Online Card Class? Cut something other than paper. There were several examples given, and I decided to cut a transparency. Believe it or not, this is what I had on hand. (Left over school teacher stuff.) This is one of those cards that you have to see in person for the full effect.

This will make a great "Any Hero" card for Operation Write Home.

Kerri Bradford's star Silhouette download

Neenah white card stock

SU card stock

A Cut Above, Part Two, Day 2, Redo

This is my second attempt at the card I posted in the wee hours of the morning, and I am much happier with this one. Much happier!!!

Echo Park "A Walk in the Park" 6x6 paper pad

Hero Arts "Live and Laugh" and pearls
Silhouette downloads - daisies, label

A Cut Above, Part Two, Day 2

We're "Stepping Up with the Silhouette" in this lesson. I'm not pleased with my paper choices for this card, but it's a first attempt. I may have to visit this card design again soon.

My Mind's Eye "Vanity Fair" 6x6 paper pad

Hero Arts "Designer Woodgrain," "Live and Laugh," pearls

Impression Obsession "Scratches"

Silhouette downloads: daisies, labels

A Cut Above, Part Two, Day 1

I'm on online class overload!! The second half of "A Cut Above" is all about using the Silhouette. I'm also taking Kerri Bradford's "Silhouette: Oh the Places You'll Go." Kerri's class is the second in a series and it's self-paced, so I think I'll put that one on the back burner for a while.

Today's "A Cut Above" class was an introduction to the machine, and it was a nice review. We also received several downloads from Ali Edwards to use on cards.

Gluing that flimsy piece of white paper was a challenge! Thank goodness for spray adhesive!

Ali Edwards "Miss You" Silhouette Studio download

Martha Stewart heart punch

Ranger Glossy Accents

Neenah Solar White card stock

SU Black card stock

A Cut Above, Day 7

Day seven is the last of the lessons using traditional die cutting (and embossing) machines. The challenge? Clever dry embossing.

I used the back of a thin die to create a frame for the flowers and sentiment.

The flowers were colored with my six new distress markers. I'm glad I picked up two blues, two reds, and two greens! I think with practice, I may get the hang of coloring on stamps!

 Spellbinder's Nestabilities Labels 18

Ranger Distress Markers

Stampabilities "Floral Silhouette 2"

Hero Arts "Anytime Messages"

Neenah Solar White card stock

A Cut Above, Day 6

Day 6 of the current Online Card Class gave us 5 new ways to use embossing folders!! Fortunately I had stamp club last night, and Sharon, my Stampin' Up demonstrator, was using one of them! Yay!! Thanks, Sharon! Here's the card we made.

I put ink on the embossing folder and embossed the paper. Then used a sponge to add 3 other more colors. To top it off, there's some gold embossing powder  to give it a bit of shine.

All materials except the sentiment are from Stampin' Up. The sentiment stamp is from Hampton Art.

A Cut Above, Bonus Day

The online card class, A Cut Above, was scheduled as a Monday through Friday class for three weeks. What a nice surprise to have a bonus day of ideas! Today's discussion was using the negative space of dies. Jennifer posted a card on her blog today that I knew I had to CASE. You can see her card HERE.

Here's my card, and it is clean and simple!

I used Memory Box's "Dancing Tulips" to die cut Neenah Desert Storm card stock and glued that to a white card base. Then I used the same die to cut SU's Old Olive and Rich Razzleberry. I used Tombo Mono Multi Liquid Glue to place the colored pieces into the negative space.

Here's a closer look.

Finally, I used some white detail embossing powder for the sentiment. (Hero Arts "Essential Messages")

A Cut Above, Day 5

Day 5? "Other than Paper" die cutting. I used ribbons from my stash for these butterflies. 

SU black card stock and butterfly die

Neenah Desert Storm card stock

Hero Arts "Huge Hugs" sentiment stamp

My Stash - ribbon and string

A Cut Above, Day 4

Day four challenged us to use a partial die cut. Several examples were given, and I chose to "hang" my die off the edge of the card.

Memory Box "Puffy Clouds" steel craft die

Lawn Fawn "Bon Voyage" and "Flying By"

Neenah white card stock

SU card stock and scallop edger

Copic markers

A Cut Above, Day 3

Day three? Make a shaped card. Well, all my cards are a shape, rectangles. (That's middle school teacher sarcasm.) I have been known to make square cards and round cards on occasion. Anyway, I dug through my Nestabilities, and found this set that's large enough to make a card.

Spellbinders nestabilities and label dies

Hero Arts "Starbursts" and sentiment

Stampendous detail white embossing powder

Ranger "Old Paper" distress ink

Memento tuxedo black ink

Pearls from my stash, colored with Copic R24

A Cut Above, Day 2

The challenge for day 2, was to make a window card using a die. Using the paper I left on my desk from yesterday's assignment, I created this card.

Hero Arts "Frames with Sprigs" die, "Big Hugs" sentiment, "Newspaper Background"

Teresa Collins "World Traveler" 6x6 paper pad

Fiscars edger punch

SU card stock

In addition to posting in the class gallery, I'm also posting this card on A Blog Named Hero for their window challenge.

A Cut Above, Day 1

I'm taking another class from Online Card Classes entitled "A Cut Above." This one is being taught by Kristina Werner, Jennifer McGuire, and Nichol Magouirk. It's a three week class, and the first half is devoted to traditional die cutting. The second half will focus on the Silhouette Studio.

Day one's challenge? Step up your die cutting. Nichol suggested using die cuts as embellishments.

My Favorite Things Die-namics "Upsey Daisies"

Theresa Collins "World Traveler" 6x6 paper pad

Hero Arts "Year Round Sentiments"

SU "Crump Cake" card stock