Cheater Crafting - a guilty pastime

Its not really cheating, I know.

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Its a craft. It takes knowledge and skill, the tools and the time.
But, it is. Cheating. Using a machine to electronically and perfectly cut out card elements.
The cards though, they do come out great!! Lookit these cuties I made for my moms birthday:

Making handmade cards takes time and effort and skill. Its not a really quick process. When I use my Silhouette to make cards, I do it for the fancy results and it STILL takes time and effort and skill. But I always feel like its cheating because the machine makes all the detailed cuts and I just do the front and back end of the job - designing, setting up the cuts, and then assembling. Its that one step closer to automation, I think, that does me in!

But on to the cheater cards! I gave my mom a travel mug that will fit perfectly in her Keurig, and a gift certificate to a restaurant for a nice dinner. And this cool tray I made for her -  These are the two cards I made:

Smart girl, I missed a photo of the card sitting out.  

The Coffee card is a Double-Z Fold, 5 x 5" and says Coffee is a Hug in a Mug. I'd love to show you the stunning detail and my cute color choices, but I have 3 kids and sometimes I forget what the heck I am doing...so it was packed up nice and pretty before I immortalized my craftiness with detailed photos. Sorry.

cute little mug, and not-as-cute paper bow from scraps

I especially like the one from our dog! (its the restaurant certificate)

Looks almost just like Zoey 

 Its a modified gift card holder pattern. I needed it to hold an envelope with a large certificate. The top is like a belly band, it just slides off. And shows a cute little message from Zoey LOL

Shes good with a pen, that doggie!

Because who doesn't love some leftovers!! 

"Cheater Crafting" does have its rewards. My hand and back are not wrecked by hand cutting intricate shapes, and the resulting cards are worth those guilt pangs I end up with at the end of the night!
And. My mom really enjoyed them. :-)
Which is the real goal at the end of the day, right? Make your recipient feel the love that you've poured into the card.

Happy Crafting!
-Angie

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