Cricut Cartridge Sale

18 Cartridges for $15.95 at CricutMachine.com

This is an excellent deal - especially since it includes the October 31st, Pumpkin Carvings, Thanksgiving and both of the new Christmas cartridges!!


List of Cartridges on Sale:

Christmas Cards Seasonal
Christmas Village Seasonal
Cricut Sampler
Disney - Mickey Font
Disney - Pooh Font
Disney - Tinker Bell & Friends
Elmo's Party
H20 Seasonal
Hello Kitty Font
Hello Kitty Greetings
October 31st Seasonal
Office Help
Pumpkin Carving Seasonal
Sesame Street Font
Speaking of Fall
SpongeBob Squarepants
Stamping
Thanksgiving Seasonal

I hope you find what you were looking to buy! The prices are great and I considered the shipping reasonable. Another plus - they take PayPal!

Oo-la-la, Paris'

Late - and I mean late - last night my darling daughter mentioned that she had to turn in a project for her French class and that she wanted to use my Cricut to decorate.

So, praying a thankful prayer that I had French Manor, off we went to my scrap room. Her project was to make a menu for her French Cafe'. Everything had to be written in French with prices in Euros.

She went through my book and made all the cuts herself, I helped her assemble the menu (because she isn't good with glue - lol) and wrote up the offerings for her (she hasn't learned Calligraphy yet).

I think she did a great job - and once again I am thankful for my Cricuts. My printer has been on the fritz for about 2-3 months now, so we can't print anything at home and if I had one of the machines where you design with your computer and cut it out (Silhouette, Pazzles, etc) she wouldn't have been able to do most of the work. I do have my Gypsy loaded with this cartridge, but she does not know how to use it.

~ProvoCraft, this is a perfect example of why you should not discontinue cartridges and should always make the physical cartridges - so that the young ones can still use the wonderful machines without touching mommy's Precious Gypsy!!~

Front of the Menu:

Back of the Menu:

The Cricut is just perfect for these types of (last-minute) projects - and so kid-friendly. My daughter is a teen, but she has been playing with my baby bug since I first purchased it. I think that I shall finally give her the baby bug so that she can use it for anything she wants - school or otherwise. Of course, I do need two machines so I shall have to save up for another Expression!

Okay, okay

I know, I haven't put a post up for today!

That's because 1) I haven't been feeling very well today, and 2) I've been working on a big project that isn't finished. I can't share it with you right now, but in about a week I will be able to post it for you.

I am going to go into my scrap room in just a few and see if I can put another project together to share with you. Check back in a little while.

Be Your Own Star!

Shhh - Don't tell anyone, but personally - I love Miley Cyrus music. Now that doesn't mean I run right out and buy anything associated with her or Hannah Montana. BUT - If it is on clearance it is fair game!! I found a bunch of HM stamps in cd case on clearance the the big box store a while back for 50 cents each! Of course I snatched them up. I figured that even though I probably will never use the images of HM, I will use a lot of the other stamps in the case. This is one of those stamps.






I used my Cricut and George to cut the stars. The ink is from CTMH and the cat eye shaped inks. The stamped image is heat embossed. Cream cardstock for the card base. Printed papers are from a stackpack. I distressed the edges of all the papers and popped the image and stars for more dimension. I am still fairly new to heat embossing, so it is a little difficult to read the e and o in the pictures - but in real life they are there.


This cards has been entered at these challenges:
Bah! Humbug! Challenge 37 - Stars
Sweet Stampin Challenge 45 - Sketch
Cupcake Craft Challenge - Pink and Brown
Simon Says Stamp & Show- Distressed/Sanded



Thanks for visiting!!

Giveaway at PaperCraft Star!!

Papercraft Star is giving away a gift certificate!

They are giving away a $25.00 giftcertificate when they reach 1000 followers. Hop over there and check it out!

A Challenging Challenge

What do I mean by "A Challenging Challenge"? Well, I had been surfing a few blogs and noticed that a few create their project so that they can enter several challenges with the same project. I hadn't really thought about that since I was just getting into the challenges to get motivated. After thinking about it a few days, I decided to challenge myself to do just that, and began planning in my notebook. After searching through several challenge blogs, I found a few that would work together. This card is the result.



This card is entered at:
Paper Cutz Challenge - a critter
PaperCraft Star - a specific card recipe
Sketch and Stash Challenge Blog - a sketch to follow
Sugar Sweet Paper Treats - specific colors
Jen's Scrap Closet - Butterfly
Stamping Scrapping Challenge - Anything Goes
Charisma Cardz - Anything Goes
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge - Fall Collors
Sentimental Sundays - dimension

No Cricut on this card. I used Cream cardstock for the base card which measures 5.5 x 5.5 inches when folded. All inks are Close To My Heart. I used heat embossing for the butterfly. The butterfly and swirl stamps are from Autumn Leaves. Flowers are from Prima, twine is from the craft section of that big box store.


Thanks for looking!

Boo-tiful Treat Bag - Envelope Challenge Tutorial

This Boo-tiful Treat Bag was created partially for My Pink Stamper's Envelope Challenge. I am had planned to create something similar for a teacher's goody bag, so this just helped me along my way. The challenge was to use an envelope. I have also entered it at Stamping Scrapping Challenge's Halloween Challenge.

In addition to my standard picture - I have actually taken a little time to create a picture tutorial, as promised.




Step One:
You can use any envelope. I used a #10 business envelope because I can get two bags from one envelope. If you use an invitation envelope, you will only get one.
First, seal the envelope, then cut it in half.



Step Two:
Decorate your envelope.
First I ran it through my Cuttlebug using the Polka Dots folder (had to, I just bought it a few days ago)



Then I stamped with Grey ink and flourish stamps. You could do this before the Cuttlebug, but I wanted a rougher look from the dots.








Step Three:
Score the three edges at .5 inches(you can do larger, just make sure you do all three edges). If you are using an invitation envelope, you will score three sides and cut off one of the ends at the same measurements.
Fold at the score lines and burnish with a bone folder or smooth ended tool. This is a little tricky due to the embossing, so pay attention to the fold lines.



Step Four:
Open the almost bag and insert your hand to help poof it and adjust the fold areas as needed.



The two corners will poke outwards. Flatten them and glue them to the bottom of the bag.

Step Five:

Topper. Using my cricut, I cut out the phrase "boo" with shadow from Holiday Cakes (again, had to as I just bought it!). I attached it to a piece of 3.125 x 2 inch cardstock, scored and folded at the 1 inch mark. I also added a border made using my MS Drippy Goo punch. I embellished with Stickles.

Step Six:
Fill the bag with treats and attach the Topper to the bag. I glue the Topper to the front and back to keep the bag closed and to prevent "snitching.

I hope you enjoyed this Boo-tiful Treat Bag. I love to see what you create, so please post here if you make any of your own.

Boo-tiful Treat Bags - Envelope Challenge

I have created this Boo-tiful Treat Bag partially for My Pink Stamper's Envelope Challenge. I had planned to make these treat bags for Teacher's Gifts and had just not had time to make my inital design. Her challenge (Karlee's actually) helped get my rear in gear and get to creating.

I promise you that this is created from an envelope!! I have created a picture tutorial on how to create your own - here.

Cart Used:
Holiday Cake

Paper Used:
#10 envelope
White cardstock
Black cardstock

Misc:
Drippy Goo Punch (Martha Stewart)
Flourishes 2 stamps (Autumn Leaves)
Grey Wool Ink (CTMH)
Polka Dots folder (Cuttlebug)

Bird Challenge

I created this card to submit to My Pink Stamper Blog Challenge. The Challenge was to use a Bird.

The interior sentiment reads: Just Swooping In to Say "HI!"

I went a little Stickle-happy. I alway say though "Glitter makes everything brighter!"

A second picture to show the dimension

Carts Used:

French Manor

Storybook

Paper Used:

Black Card base

Cream cardstock

Green cardstock

White cardstock

Printed paperstack

Misc:

Stickles

popdots

I cut the framed trellis from French Manor, turned the trellis part and trimmed it to fit inside the outer frame. I cut the vine border from Storybook and snipped it in places and wove it through the trellis for a dimensional look. Adding small popdots beneath the trellis to pull it from the wall and large popdots to the birds add extra depth. The wing of the upper bird has small popdots to make it appear behind the bird as natural.

Then I stickled. I started with just the birds to make them pop some more, then I went to the vine, then it needed something else so I did the trellis. After deciding between a white card base and a black card base, I touched the sides of the base to frame it all in just a little more.

Too much? Maybe, but I love it and the person I made it for will as well.

Candle Challenge

This time I have entered the Bitten by the Bug October 31st Candle Challenge. The only requirement was to use a candle from the October 31st cartridge on the creation. I had really wanted to do a 3D thing, but my creativity was a bit stifled at the beginning. Unfortunately, I do not have the October 31st cartridge yet, so for the crafters who do not, we can use any candle.

I think these challenges are going to be what I need to stay motivated.

Front of the card:

Inside of the card:

Cartridges Used:

Joys of the Season

Stretch Your Imagination

Gypsy Wanderings

Paper Used:

Orange cardstock

Black cardstock

Cream cardstock

Green cardstock

Green from a paper stack

Misc:

Gold gel pen

Silver Sharpie

I colored the flame and the holder on the candle as I didn't have any glitter paper and couldn't get to my Stickles. I didn't have an alpha set to create the sentiment that would fit in the space, so I hand wrote it - I slant badly.

I cut a hole behind the pumpkin's head so the inside candle would shine through. The frame is done on the Gypsy with two frames set inside each other to cut a thin frame instead of a mat.

A fairly simple card that took me longer than expected as I was helping my child with Math homework at the same time.

BABY card for Challenge

I have decided to participate in daily challenges to get used to creating every day and to force myself to go into my scrap room.


This card is for the Cricut Cardz Challenge #43
The directions were to make a card for a new baby using any carts and the colors green, yellow, orange and white only.

I have also entered this card at Charisma Cardz Challenge for their Anything Goes Challenge, and at PaperTakeWeekly for their Animal Challenge, and Totally Gorjus for their Wild Thing Challenge.

This is my submission:





Cart(s) Used:
New Arrival Cartridge

Paper used:
White cardstock
Yellow and Green from a stack pack
Orange cardstock

Misc:
Orange CM marker
Green CM marker
CTMH leaf stampad
Cuttlebug with dots folder


I went sans Gypsy and pulled out my New Arrival cartridge. I cut the Giraffe in shadow and both layers and drew on the face and spots. I cut the Baby blocks from the Orange and white and used the leaf stampad to color the letters. I also used the leaf stampad to lightly go over the embossed paper to bring the dots out some more.
The giraffe is yellow and the background is green, but it is hard to tell them apart.

I hope you enjoyed my card!

Cartridge Give-Away!

Cindy, over at Royal Things, is giving away the Give A Hoot cricut cartridge.
Pop over there and take a moment to leave a comment to be entered for a chance to win.

French Manor cartridge project

This "French Vase and Flowers" are what I designed with my French Manor exclusive cartridge. Yes, I did submit it for the contest, but no I didn't win anything. I really liked this project and surprised myself with discovering how versatile the cartridge is. It was not my favorite cartridge, but I didn't hate it. I challenged myself to come up with something that was not "obviously" on the cartridge

Everything except the stems are made from cuts from the French Manor cartridge. See if you can guess which cut I used for the vase. Without my Gypsy, I couldn't have made part of this project. Love my Gypsy!

The handbook for the French Manor cartridge is here



The flowers were made using the tag feature and a similar process to the flowers you can find on youtube. I had to modify it so they would look more natural. I used the same cut in green to make the leaves, jut cut the petals apart. I used floral tape and wire for the stems and to attach the leaves.

The vase is three-sided with Close To My Heart Liquid Glass covering the surfaces. The fleur de lis and scrollwork also have the Liquid glass.

I cut the three pieces for the vase and hot glued them together, painted them and curled the ends to meet my vision.

I also made a second vase in pink - without the Liquid Glass.


All the papers are from Close To My Heart.

After rushing through the initial project, I took some of the vase apart and redid it and some of the flowers so they would look more like I had planned.

These projects have also been entered at a few other Challenge blogs: Tuesday Morning Sketches