Cricut Valentines

Lauren asked if I could make some Valentines for the Gilda's Club Arts Day... so I got out my Cricut and started designing. They've upgraded the Make the Cut software and added some extra features that make it even more versatile, and it cuts super-fast now, so I'm going to be using it a LOT more.The last one isn't actually 'cricut' - border punches are still quicker and easier than designing whole cards, at least for me! I got some lovely border stickers at the LSS and made them the centerpiece of some cards. I've still got a ton left too.

 

Cards for Cancer

I offered to make cards for the Friends of Gilda to sell at a fund-raising Arts Festival... so I've been making cards like a maniac whenever I could spare a few minutes this month. Here are some of my results. My cards tend to be of the 'clean and simple' persuasion, and I've used my Cricut to cut some of the sentiments. The multi-coloured ones are stickers I picked up at Ross. I also used stamping and my favourite technique - direct inking. I got an ATG for Christmas and it makes card assembly much less messy than the liquid glue. Of course I still have to use that for doing all the fiddly bits but the backgrounds and strips are all taped.

Sticker Cards with stamped decoration

Bad news, good news...

First the bad news. I've been struggling with de quervain's syndrome (thumb tendinitis) in my left hand all year long, and while it's a lot better than it was at first (in January I couldn't even  get a spoon or fork into my mouth because my wrist wouldn't bend!) I keep aggravating it. I can't pick up a pen to write, hold a pair of nail scissors (or the cat clippers), or play my flute, and I've realised that if I don't look after it properly it might not get better! Then I wouldn't be able to make cards at all and I'd be TRULY frustrated... I'm taking two weeks off all the activities that put a strain on my hand and that are avoidable to give it a better chance of healing. So no volunteering at the library (shelving books), no lifting, and no crafting. No matter how much my fingers itch to create a new card, I'm not going to do it unless I really have to. Please don't forget about me - I'll be back as soon as I can.

But there's also good news - I posted a card I made for a card contest on the Rubber Stamp Chat site - and I won first prize from Scrolls Work Stamps! I can't wait to spend my gift certificate on some more stamping goodies from their store ... I can't afford to buy stamps for myself unless they're in the bargain bin, so this is a great chance to fill in some of the gaps in my collection. I just HAVE to have this stamp for my OWH cards. :) 

I was also lucky enough to win some beautiful blog candy during the Operation Write Home blog hop a few weeks ago... Lori sent me some lovely ribbons, stickers and bling.  Check out her blog - Lori's Purple Giraffes. Thank you so very much Lori... your gift will allow me to make that many more cards for charity, as soon as my hand will allow me to do the work!

All the cards I make are for ministry - either for Operation Write Home, for card ministry through my own or other churches, or direct gifts to thank/cheer/uplift people through the mail. If/when my hand heals enough to manage it, my next 'order' is to make a bunch of cards for our local cat rescue group to help them raise funds to look after the furbabies. (I offered to do it in January and they said they'd love to get some cards, but I haven't been able to manage it yet. :( )
I don't have the money to buy a lot of supplies (I spend more than I should just on postage and cardstock!), so the occasional things that people give me are received with huge thanks. I would never sell or discard an item that was given to me, or attempt to profit from it myself. If I have too much of something or I really can't use it, I'll find another crafter who CAN use it and give it to them. So thank you, thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!!!!! I couldn't do it without you.

How many cards can I make in 90 minutes?

This many! This morning I finished off making some cards for our churches' card ministry before I went to service. I gave Birdie 38 cards in all, but here are the ones I made this morning.

Cards from Swap Items

It's time to restock the card supply for our churches' card ministry, and making them from scratch is currently difficult for me, so I dug into my basket of swap items to find some nice decorations. The main elements on all of these cards were received in scrapbooking swaps from various groups. I added brads, decoration, stamps etc to finish the cards as the mood took me. Eleven cards later I haven't even made a dent in the basket!