Sunday, February 27, 2011

Dog Food Die Cuts

Hello Friends!

Hope you are having an awesome weekend!

Today's post may seem a little strange when you read the title! No, I didn't die cut dog food! (Not yet anyway!) But I did think "outside the bag" for this project! Let me give you some background info so you won't think I have totally lost it! ( No comment from those who know me well, please)

My BFF Mary and her hubby have asked me on occasion to babysit my dogniece and dognephew, Susie and Max, for them. This time, their anniversary fell during there time away.

You have to understand, with my three dogs and their two, it is a cute circus at times in my house! Thankfully, they all get along well! More thankfully, they all eat the same dog food! This is a real plus when you have five eating at the same time! NOW, Mary's favorite colors are pastel blue and pink! One night while I was feeding the dogs, I looked at the bag, and guess what?!?! Those colors were on the bag!! Well, me being me, the concept for their card was established!! Perfect sense, right???

I got the animals fed, out to potty and settled in for the night. Then I began to cut apart their dog food bag! They were a little confused, but full, so they left me alone with the bag! I cut panels from the bag to fit my Cricut mat. I used the Daisy from the Walk In My Garden cartridge to start cutting flowers from the bag! Well, the bag had a coating, kind of like freezer paper on it. My cuts were sliding all over the place and I was almost crushed that I would not be able to use my awesome (to me) idea for their card. Then I was blessed with an AHA moment! I have the spray for renewing your mats! I sprayed the panels before putting them on the mat and it worked beautifully!! I was so tickled, I woke the dogs when I uttered a very loud, "YES!!" Once again, they looked up, gave me the "she's lost it again" look and resumed their naps.

After cutting out various sizes of the flower, I layered them to resemble Mary's favorite flower, the Dahlia. I think I got pretty close! I punched the centers of the layers and bound them with a large gem topped brad. Whew! It worked! Now, what to do next?!?!

I decided to go with a craft colored base. I had to get something in there for hubby! I used some DCWV Spring paper for the background, cut the sides with a border punch and edged it with a Versamark pen, and embossed the edge with copper powder. I stamped the sentiment with Versamark on some coordinating paper from the same stack. I then embossed that with the copper powder also. I used a Spellbinders Fancy Tags die to cut out the greeting. I also embossed the ends and edges of the tag. Now it was time to put it all together on the base. I used some leaves from my floral stash to accent the flower, which is attached with glue dots. The sentiment is mounted on dimensionals. I added a computer generated greeting inside, rounded the corners, and called it "done"! I wanted to dress up the envelope a little so I stamped the flying bird with Versamark and embossed it in the copper also. The bird represents them being away and going to Florida as "snowbirds" to get away from the cold! I know, I'm awful!

I hope I didn't bore you with my journey through this project. I just felt I might need to explain myself a little. Who am I kidding? If you follow my blog, you know this is typical of me, right?!?!
I know Mary will get a big kick out of it and that is what I was after! She and Don have been wonderful to me and are always there to give me rides, fix my broken house, or just give me a boost when I need it! I love them dearly!

If this post starts your week off with a chuckle or a sigh (sympathy for my friends...lol), then I am happy! It makes my heart sing when friends drop by and check out my latest craziness! Thanks so much and come back again soon, won't you?

Love and hugs to you all.. and .....

Blessings to you,
Vicki

16 comments:

  1. LOVE it!!!! Great way to recycle. Great way to incorporate your friend's likes and loves into the card. Beautifully done, Vicki!! I'm sure they loved it, too!

    ReplyDelete
  2. well you certainly did think outside the bag! it turned out wonderful. no one would ever be the wiser.

    ReplyDelete
  3. UNBELIEVEABLE MOM!!! Way to go!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. This totally made me smile. I guessed immediately from your title what you did, I remember you used a tie once from a dog food bag. You are the ultimate recycler, and I love this idea. Such a beautiful card. I'm sure your friend will really enjoy this card.

    ReplyDelete
  5. wow, i think Leo dicaprio would be proud of your recycling efforts! It's a beautiful bloom & is it also scented?! Hee! She might find the dogs licking her card. The embossing is a great detail :) tfs all the deets & chuckles :) big hugs~

    ReplyDelete
  6. the finished project is wonderful! but I am lovin all the LUV you've put into it...you always give so much of yourself - best kind of friend (-:
    hugs to you for thinkin "outside that box"
    Linda

    ReplyDelete
  7. That is a gorgeous card, Tfs :)

    HUGS !
    Alex
    http://www.youhadmeatcraft.com/

    ReplyDelete
  8. Amazing! love the thought that went into your wonderful card!Hope your friends loved it too!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I thought I recognized all the usual bags of dog food but you threw me on this one. Do not recognize the pattern at all. However, your concept is amazing! Beautiful card.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi...beautiful card. I love the colors, they all blend so nice and your flower is stunning!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Love you multi-layered flower, great cards. TFS

    ReplyDelete
  12. This is truly beautiful Vicki! Love the colours and love how you made the card! Great inspiration for looking at things outside what we usually would.

    Blessing to you :-)
    Jocelyn

    ReplyDelete
  13. Whew! What a clever way to recycle and cool to look at everyday things with a crafter's eyes! Fun and pretty too
    Anne
    x

    ReplyDelete
  14. Recycling at it's best! Beautiful card.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I love this card Vicki and the embossed bird on the envelope - so so pretty! But most of all I loved reading your post - so charming and funny - it did start my day off with a smile and a chuckle. Have a wonderful weekend. Hugs, Dru

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for blessing me with your comments. I truly appreciate each and every one! Have a wonderful day!