Koala Birthday

I made this card for my niece's upcoming birthday.  I picked up Create a Critter 2 at Joann's recently during a sale and this was the first time I've used it.  I really like it but, like normal, the phrase cuts just wouldn't work correctly cut small enough for a card.  I've heard the new Cricut machine that is coming out this spring can make those smaller cuts - bummer that I already invested so much money in this one!  So...I ended up using some really old stamps I have from Will 'n Way to create a sentiment.  I used Momento Dew Drop ink in Lilac Posies and I think it matches the paper pretty well.

The print papers are from a 6x6 paper pad from DCWV called Girl Fille.  The solid papers are all Core'dinations card stock.  The gemstone is from a huge container I purchased from Hobby Lobby years ago - it will probably take me the rest of my life to use them all!









The koala is cut at 2.5" and you really don't need the cut called "KoalaHrt" if you are also cutting out the shadow.  The only part on that cut that shows through are the facial features and I actually liked the way it looked with the black showing through.  I used a white Jelly Roll pen to highlight the eyes and give a little hint of a curve to the nose.

On the inside I used a piece of the printed paper and my Fiskars Interchangeable Border Punch Set with the Daisy Chain cartridge.  I really like this Fiskars punch.  The cartridges are interchangeable and take up way less space than having complete border punch contraptions for every design.  I picked mine up at Tuesday Morning but I've seen them everywhere.