Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Driving Down Memory Lane


For me, the Cricut Traveler cartridge has been more about traveling back in my memories than traveling to vacation destinations.  A couple of posts back, I featured the orange cut that reminded me of my grandma's juice glasses.  (If you missed it, you can click here to see it!)  There is another cut that took me back too:  the car cut. 


This cut really reminds me of the VW Bug Super Beetle that was my mom's car through all of the 70s and most of the 80s!  It was sky blue, although I really don't know if that was the official color name!  It wasn't the easiest car to love with its lack of air conditioning, AM-only radio, and that waffle-patterned vinyl that left an imprint on the back of my legs in the summers when I wore shorts.  (I used to say you could always pick out the kids who arrived anywhere in a VW because we all had that same pattern pressed into the backs of our thighs from the seats.)

My mom was a single parent, but she worked hard and used to take us everywhere in that car!  Washington DC, Daytona Beach, Sanibel Island, Detroit, and countless other summer vacations and weekend trips during the 17 years that she had that car.  I can't even imagine taking two small kids on trips in that car... that was before cell phones too!  (She was tough!)

I thought it would be fun to do a 'Just Because' kind of card with that cut and an Erma Bombeck quote that just kind of fit.  This is the second project I am doing as part of the Obsessed with Scrapbooking Design Team!

I started the project by visiting Google Images to look at what that car really looked like-- beyond my patchy memories of it.  (Here's a preview of my finished paper car too!) 


I cut two images of the car in blue at 3" on my Expression.  I cut one shadow of it too in black.  I cut off the luggage rack on the top.  (We always put our luggage in the trunk, which is on the front!  There was also a little cubbie behind the backseat, which we always had stuffed full!)

I used a punch to cut out my hubcaps from metallic paper.  I cut off the end button on the Cuttlebug folder with buttons from the Just My Type set.  *gasp!*  Yes, it was hard to allow myself to do that but I needed an embossed center on my hubcaps just like the old VWs had! 


I used my flower-making pad and tools to create a rounded (convex) form, taking care not to roll over the embossed area.


I colored the tire with a Sharpie pen and then applied embossing ink and powder and heat set it to get my tires!  I outlined the inner edge with a white gel pen to indicate white walls.


I inked the edges of the car and door and adhered acetate to create windows for the car.  (The driver's window is partially rolled down-- remember 'rolling' down a window with a crank?!)  I added silver paper shapes to enhance the bumpers and door handle.  (Remember chrome bumpers?)


From the second car cut, I hand-cut fenders.  I used the flower-making mat and tools again to round them and applied them with pop dots to raise them off the surface.  I hand-cut orange lights and used a white gel pen to indicate the silver detail along the side of the car.

I adhered the car to the shadow, trimming a bit.  I applied the car body flat.  The hubcaps were adhered with pop dots.  I made a paper hinge (just a folded piece of card stock) so that my door would stay open to accommodate the presence of the figure I will be placing behind it!  The benefit of this detail is that it folds down flat for mailing but pops open when it comes out of the envelope!


I added a bit of hand detail using a Sharpie Micro point pen to create the vent over the engine and just behind the rear window.  I added that handle for the engine-- remember the engine is on the rear!  (Was that a handle?  Maybe it was a light over the license plate-- my old memory has forgotten that detail!)

Next, I worked on the 'mom'.  I cut a 3" figure from Country Life on the Imagine, floodfilling it with RGB 250,229,210.  (I also cut a 5" square floodfilled with the same flesh color).  I cut an identical figure, this time floodfilling with a print from Hey Diddle Diddle so that I could create a dress.  I hand-cut to shorten her dress and remove the pitchfork.  On the Expression, I cut her hairstyle from Paper Doll Dress Up (page 67) at 1-1/4" for the bangs and 1-1/2" for the back part of the hairstyle.  I added a few extra locks of hair.


I hand-cut a separate head so that she would have a chin using the 5" floodfilled square, tucking the forehead under her bangs.  I used a Sharpie Micro Fine pen for the details on the face and body-and a little ink for her cheeks.

I used a pop dot to adhere the figure to the open car door.


I hand-cut a couple of little kid faces and applied them to a piece of vellum.  The vellum served to give atmospheric perspective inside the car.  The vellum was attached to the backside of the car. 


Next, I cut  an 8-1/2" square, floodfilling it with the banner pattern from Hopscotch.  I used that paper to make the top ticket cut on the Expression.  I cut the ticket from Traveler (page 61) with the shadow for the mats for the front of the card. 

I typed out the quote I wanted to use, centering and sizing for the ticket cut.  I used a lightbox to center the cut onto the white paper, taping it lightly, and then running it back through the printer.


I adhered the car/lady onto the mat with 1/8" pop dots.  I cut a piece of card stock 9" x 8-1/8" and folded it down to 4-1/2" x 8-1/8". 


Since this was a 'Just Because' kind of card, I wanted a nice area inside for a hand-written note.  For the inside mat, I cut the shadow of the ticket from Traveler just as for the front of the card.  I adhered it to the inside of the card.  The banner was hand-cut from the leftover paper from the 8-1/2" square cut previously. 


Thank you for looking at my little card!  I loved playing around with this cut!  It was so much fun thinking about that old car and giving the cut a bit of dimension!  You can see all of my projects, including my other cards and altered figures by clicking the My Project Gallery tab at the top of my blog, or by clicking here.

If you are interested in the Traveler cartridge, click here for cartridge details on Joy's Creative Memories site! 


39 comments:

Joy Tracey said...

You are a true artist!! WOW!! I kept thinking about this card yesterday after you had sent it to me and I am just blown away at your artistic ability and level of detail! Can I just say "WOW" again? I was laughing about the pattern on the legs from the seats. I had totally forgotten about that (also a child of the 70s and 80s here...). We used to call it "waffle butt". More info than you wanted, I'm sure.

THANK YOU!! Hugs, Joy

RAP said...

I love the little touches like the woman with door popped open and the kids in the back seat. It looks just like the one in the picture, doesn't me.

Ohhh Snap said...

WOW!!! This is wonderful :D. And congratulations on being on Joy's Design Team :D.

And WOW!! that really is some card :D.

Northwoodszoo said...

Oh, my, another cart I must now have (VW was my first car!). You have a very creative streak!

Lena said...

Beautiful card - love the many details you added. Makes it truly special! The labour of love definately shines through. Well done and thank you for sharing you amazing creation and for the great instructions :)

Scrappin with the bug said...

Oh my goodness this is so cute. I love all the details and the great instructions. When I saw the photo of the "Mom" I knew it had to be something you made.

Great job.

Marilyn said...

This card is amazing. The detail the thoughtful composition. WOW !!!!!! Joy obviously choose well when she picked you for her design team. Congrats.

Elaine S. said...

What a wonderful card! I found you by clicking on a link from Obsessed With Scrapbooking. I'll say you like to alter cuts - they're wonderful. I have just subscribed to your blog. Thanks for sharing.

rockinrobin721 said...

Cute card and OMG did it bring back a flood of memories for me as well. I learned to drive stick shift with the VW bug that was my dad's. It was white with red interior. I kept popping the clutch!

mimiof2 said...

As the proud former owner of a 1971 Clementine Orange Super Beetle, I must congratulate you on your attention to detail. You took me back in time just with the description of how and why you made each piece. I loved my first little bug and have lots of happy memories connected with it. I also love your card. You certainly put a lot of thought, and I also think love, into it.
KarenV

terri d said...

WOW! that is the most amazing cricut masterpiece I've seen! but then again looking at your blog and all the goodies you seem to have made that looks as if its your gift~ You truly have an amazing gift! How wonderful for you to share~ I will be bookmarking your blog to follow the fun things you make as well as see them on Joy's blog. You put a smile in my day!

Melissa said...

Amazing! My BFF's mom had a bug too. We loved it and the world (and bugs) seem so big when we were kids.

Hrvatica said...

Incredible. As usual, you have outdone yourself yet again!

Lindsay said...

Where do you find your quotes? They are so perfect and witty!

Unknown said...

Wow, again...i'm speechless. I"m very new to this and I am so impressed by the wonderful talents I have seen in this all- to -new -to -me also, - blog world.. but dare I say, your work has me in awe! Thank you so much for sharing your work and the generosity of your time in the superb instructions. Again, WOW!

ScrappyMama said...

OMG!! Would you please give the rest of us a break????!! LOL! I was with you on all the car details until you hit the "atmospheric perspective" & then I just gave up. I'd like to point out that the heater didn't work worth a darn either! I spent the day in one while my bffs skipped school (mine was cancelled due to snow, but their's wasn't!) & I still remember it as being one of the coldest days in my life!! All we did was sit in that car all day long...Ahhhh, good times!!

Works From The Attic by Linda said...

This is beautiful! Congratulations on such a beautiful well done card. You really were creative with it and the details are wonderful!
Linda

Lara said...

This is amazing. I bet she will treasure this card forever! I agree with Joy, you truly are an artist!

Joanne said...

This was such a wonderful trip down memory lane. I am sure the detailed write up made that all possible. My father also had a bug in the day (way back in the '60's) I think his was that light blue as well :-)
I love the details you added. I think I would like to try this one as well for a card for my dad. I think he might get a kick out of it :-) Hmm wonder if I should put all 5 of us kids lol

Froggie said...

You are amazing. My jaw dropped watching your progress of this card. How neat!

scrapdiva said...

wow your projects are just amazing, love how you made the tires looks so real

Jackie said...

Again, simply amazing. Your work is so creative and so detailed and so perfect! I love it!

thanks
Jackie

MelodyR aka Ry&MysMom said...

OMG this card is incredible! Love the little details - the hubcabs, the windows, how you created the mom image.....awesome! You are amazing!

Melissa said...

OMGosh, I am loving this car card, fabulous!!! I am now your newest follower too!

Sandy from Ukiah said...

Wow.. this is just awesome.. you did such an excellent job on it... lots of love went into this..

Anonymous said...

I think this is my absolute all time favorite and I really liked the armoire with the fabric and Mrs. Frank in the tub! It is amazingly good as it is simultaneously realistic and whimsical.

WOW - You did great, my friend!

Cstars65 said...

Love the detail! Kudos

Pam said...

This card is so awesome!!! I would make it yellow and it would be our first car when I married my hubby.
I wish I could just lift that car right off the screen for myself!!!!
I can totally see why Joy picked you to be on her team. You are very talented!

Constance said...

This is fantastic. I love it. You did a trememdous job. New at joining your blog. I am so impressed.

eunice said...

Absolutely FABULOUS, as always. I just love, LOVE seeing your amazing projects, and truly appreciate the time you take to take photos and thoroughly explain each step. Though I will never reach your level of artistry, I learn so much from reading how you acheive each effect. Thank you so much! Your work is truly an inspiration for all of us!

Audrey Frelx said...

OMG, you are amazing!!!! I love this! I love the 3D effect of the lady image standing behind the car door!

This card is amazing!!!

Carolyn/MamaC said...

I love it!! You are putting your amazing art work on cards!! What a fabulous card! I am speechless right now!:0)
Carolyn
http://cccscraproom.blogspot.com

Terri Flint said...

I just had to say that this is one of the best cards that I have ever seen, such detail and workmanship, you have outdone yourself and being a child of the 70's...it does bring back memories! Thanks so much for sharing!

Anonymous said...

WOW! Fabulous card :-)

Gerri Herbst said...

Utterly amazing! The opening car door is pure genius! You are such a talent my dear! take care, gerri

Diane Hodrick said...

Oh my gosh....you really are at a level that few achieve...beyond amazing. I am trying to alter a figure of my own...and will keep visiting you and reading so I know which way to go next. My figure won't come out anything like yours, but I'm giving it a shot! Thanks for the inspiration as always!

cdm317 said...

OMG!
You are amazing!
Colleen

Sandy Ang said...

you are so creative ! lovely projects

Wink said...

What a wonderful card!!! I loved your story too! I had a red VW and a single Mom in the 70's and it brought back so many happy memories with my 2 boys. And Yes, we went all over the place in that car. I noticed you didn't put running boards on the bottom. I had to laugh because living in the north I think everyone's had rusted off! But the car still ran great with No heat or Air! Yikes have we ever become spoiled! LOL! Thanks for the great card and a good laugh!

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