Cricutters Anonymous Challenge #32 and Design Team Call

Challenge #32 at Cricutters Anonymous (formerly Just Bugging) is an All in the Family challenge to design a gift or project for family.  I also took this oppornity to not only enter the challenge but also use it to submit another project for consideration regarding their current Design Team Call. 

My daughter just turned 18 and is having a big birthday bash with friends, so I made this banner for the party (it was NOT EASY to get a photograph of the banner because of it's total size, so I am presenting one full view and a close-up.)  To make this project with my Cricut, I used the Mother's Day 2010 seasonal Cartridge to cut each part of the banner on white cardstock.  I used my Gypsy to size each section of the banner and flipped them around on the page so I could cut as many as I could out of each sheet of 12 x 12 paper.  I then inked up my new Distressed Stripes stamps with Spring Moss ink from Papertrey Ink and stamped each of the banner cutouts to resemble patterned paper. I cut my daughter's name and the number "18" (that I put at each end of the banner) out using the Storybook Cart.  I also cut a shadow for each of the letters and numbers and adhered them together.  For the flowers I used the Accent Essentials cart and layered the flower in different sizes using patterned/glitter paper and vintage bookprint as well (from an old Treasure Island book I bought at a thrift shop for 99 cents).  I secured the flowers with glittered brads by Dear Lizzy. I also stamped a large Hero Arts Happy Birthday Stamp on each end of the banner but I was unable to get a clear photograph to show you that part. Sorry!  I tied it all together with coordinating green ribbon.

I really enjoyed putting this project together for my daughter...but what I loved even more than the project, was the look on her face and the hug I received when she saw it for the first time... priceless! :-) (P.S. The banner is actually hanging from bookshelves for the party... I put it over the closet door to attempt to get a better photograph.)