Saint Patrick's Fun

Today I decided to make something fun for Saint Patrick's Day. I have a crop coming up and need some little gifts and this will be great for the Challenge on the Cricut Circle Blog.

I have a "knack" for finding four leaf clovers. "Lucky" is a word that many use when they see me reach down and pick one up. I have always been able to walk through a patch of clovers and find a four leaf without even trying. I started collecting a long time ago and had 100s pressed in an old dictionary. I finally got tired of them and tossed them. I regret it now, but there is nothing for it but to start all over.

So I decided to put this ability to the test and challenged myself to make something with it. I had bought a bag of bottle caps several months ago intending to make magnets for the Ohio Meetup, and changed my design. These caps have been sitting on a shelf since then, lonesome and collecting dust.

My initial though was to collect four leaf clovers, press them and make bookmarks or pins of some kind; However, once I saw the pressed clovers I threw that out the window. They just weren't pretty.
So I changed my idea.

Bottle caps
Four leaf clovers
Liquid Glass (CTMH)
White cardstock
Creative Memories Circle Punch


First, I punched out white circles and adhered them into the bottle caps with the liquid glass. Then I went hunting for clovers. As I found them, I would add a dab of liquid glass into the bottle cap and used a stickpin to arrange the petals. This I let dry so it would grab the clover and keep it in place, while I continued hunting. Once that was dry, I covered the entire center of the bottle cap with a thin layer of liquid glass, and repeated it once it was dry popping air bubbles as I went (I couldn't get them all).
Tuesday, I collected 7 clovers; Wednesday, I collected 17 clovers; Thursday I realized I messed up two and ran outside to find two more clovers.


Realizing that these are only okay looking on a necklace or as a charm, I decided to make them into pins and knew they needed "more". I had some animal striped ribbon from Walmart:


Using black thread, I folded the ribbon and slipped a quick stitch straight through all the folds. I pulled it tight and tied it off so it wouldn't fight me as I tried to glue.

I also stitched the two edges together so you wouldn't see the raw ends in the final product.Flip it over and this is what you would see:

Next, I used a low temp glue gun to attached a pin back to the back of the ribbon.
Then I used the glue gun to attach the bottle cap to the top of the ribbon. Smushing it down into the ribbon made it fit slightly better.I also added a touch of "Lime" Stickles around the edge of the bottle cap to give it a bit of a "pop."
This is the finished product:
Several of the finished pins:
Since these are crop goodies, I have placed them and some mint candies into a box made from George shapes with Elegant Edges for the sentiment frames. I used my Gypsy to weld and stretch as needed. Each participant will receive this as well as a pot of gold m&ms with rainbow streamers.
"Good Memories are like a Four Leaf Clover: Lucky to Have."


I hope you enjoying today's project. Good Luck finding your own Four Leaf Clovers!

Cricut Mini and The Gypsy

The newest Gypsy update is out and now the Gypsy is able to communicate with the Cricut Mini.

We can cut with the Gypsy!!!

Happy Day, Happy Day!

I had a lot of updating to do on everything but I have successfully made cuts with the Mini!

You will have to update your Mini through the Cricut CraftRoom program (you may need to update your CCR as well). Then simply hook your Gypsy to the Mini and you are good to go!

When you start a project you want to cut with the Mini, there are now 4 different mats to choose from. The Mini mat is located on the bottom left of the screen.

Have fun and Enjoy Yourself!

Sympathy Card

I recently participated in a Sympathy Card swap. Sympathy cards are generally difficult to make, and most of us don't have them on hand for when we need them. Then, suddenly, we need one and just have a difficult time making one at the last minute. We are dealing with our emotions or helping the one who needs it or any number of things. It is hard to make a card for such an occasion when card-making normally brings us joy.
So when it was suggested to do such a swap, I jumped on it. It completely made sense and made me happy to know that I would be able to have cards on hand to bless someone in such a difficult time.

So, here is the card I created:



I started with a cream colored cardstock card base. The purple paper is from one of the cardstock 6x12 paper pads from ProvoCraft. The filigree cross is from Easter 2010 cartridge. The cross shadow was created using my Gypsy and Elegant Edges cartridge. I layered and welded them, stretching one box for the longer portion and then cut. I used a Tim Holtz embossing folder Swirls #2 and lightly sanded the raised portion to give it more dimension. (and those who know me know how much I can't stand sandpaper!) Then I used a Martha Stewart border punch for a lacey look on the edge.


The cross is adhered with pop-dots to give it dimension.


I did not add an interior sentiment for many reasons: first- depending on the need, a different sentiment may be better than one I picked, so I felt it was better to leave it blank and allow the giver to write or stamp a sentiment inside; second- as I looked at it I realized it would also be a good card for Christenings, Baptisms, Dedications, Memorials, or any number of occasions that are not limited to a Sympathy need.

Christmas Card - Santa's Visit

I recently attended a Cricut Circle Event and they hosted a Christmas Card contest.
"Christmas/Holiday/Winter Card Contest. Bring an originally designed card using at least 2 Provo Craft products. Three (3) Cricut cuts must be used on each card."

For the PC products, I used: the Gypsy, E2 (thanks Angie), paper, and Cricut Cartridges. All of the cuts were from PC Cricut Cartridges: Joys of the Seasons, Christmas Village, and Paper Doll Dress Up

The stocking were hung from the mantle with care;
The holly was fresh and put "just there."
Time for bed for Santa is sure to be here soon;
Oops! Looks like someone forgot to put the fire out in the fireplace!
Poor Santa!
The really cool part about this card is that it is interactive. See the little button down there that is tied on to a string? You pull on it (gently) and Santa's legs jump about.


Here is a close up of the top of the card. I used Liquid Pearls for the dimension on the stockings and as the holly berries. Studio G glitter glue (similar to Stickles) was used on the holly leaves.


A closeup of the lower part of the card. Again Liquid Pearls for the berries and the cuffs of Santa's pants. Chalking for the soot on his pants, as well as for shading on different areas of the card. Studio G glitter glue on the leaves, Walmart irridescent glitter glue for the fire sparkle and embers (I couldn't find my red Stickles!). The fire was colored using a blending pen and inks from Close To my Heart (CTMH). I also used a CTMH marker for some shading along the fireplace.

I really love how it turned out. And I may try to put together a tutorial on how to make interactive pull toy-type projects, if you are interested.

Oh - and I won third place!

I just love to look at this card - but I don't think I will make all of my cards like this - probably? But what should I do with this card?

Use Your Stash Wednesday ~ Thank You window card

Hi everyone! Today is my Design Team post for Enjoying the Bug.

Since it is Wednesday, the theme is "Use Your Stash" and while I was initially going to create a birthday card for a 16 year old male, I had a few issues and decided to finish my Thank You card early.

Recipe Ingredients:
Gypsy machine
Cricut machine
George Cricut cartridge
White cardstock - always have this on hand
Dark Pink cardstock - from an old Cricut 6x6 pad
Light Pink cardstock - from an old Cricut 6x6 pad
Martha Stewart black glitter - left over from Halloween
Black pigment ink - I have no idea where I got this!
VersaMark - always have this on hand
CTMH Hollyhock ink
Inkadoo stamp from Big Lots
Embossing folder - I received this as a RAK, I think it is Tim Holtz's Burlap?
Plastic clamshell from a Cricut Cartridge - I save most of mine

I had created a window card using my Gypsy machine and George cartridge solely for the purpose of using the plastic from my Cricut cartridges. This was the perfect opportunity to use the file.

First, I selected my papers and laid them out on my Cricut mat. I have an Expression, but this file is easily modified for the Create or the Personal machines.

Then, I cut a piece of the plastic and wiped it clean on both sides. I adhered it to the darker pink using my ATG gun - this is super sticky, so get it right the first time.

Then I lightly inked the edges with black ink.

I then adhered the darker pink with the plastic to the white card base. You can see the lighter pink layer here. I had set aside the window cutouts from the white and dark pink for another project, but I will be using the lighter pink cutout.

I stamped the Thank You sentiment from the Inkadoo set with black pigment ink. I did attempt putting the Martha Stewart glitter on then, but it would not hold much of it. So I dried it off and stamped over it with the Versamark and then sprinkled the MS glitter on top. Next time I won't use the pigment ink - so I recommend that you use regular ink unless you plan to emboss the image.

I lightly inked the edges of the light pink cutout and then adhered it so the sentiment was centered in the window. (The above picture is truer to color than below. These pictures are way off in color as my little camera is misbehaving and I am using a borrowed laptop that doesn't have more than a basic paint program for editing. My apologies.)

Next, using the CTMH hollyhock ink again, I inked the sides of the light pink layer and ran it through my Cuttlebug machine using the burlap (?) embossing folder. Then I lightly "kissed" the textured image with the ink pad to make the texture pop a little more. The final touch was to ink the edges of the white card base with the CTMH Holloyhock ink to tie it all together.

I hope you enjoyed.

Now, your challenge is not only to use your stash, but to incorporate either a window or plastic into your creation!

Playing with More Flowers

I promised a follow-up post from the Floral Vines from yesterday.
I felt like I needed more in my flower swap than just the vines I made, so I found some inspiration online. Unfortunately, I didn't have the Cricut cartridge I needed - Mother's Day Bouquet. :(
Necessity is the mother of invention though, so I pulled out my Gypsy and started searching for an appropriate flower. I was out of luck there as well. So I decided to just see what I could do with two of the flowers on the Gypsy Wanderings cartridge.

Not too shabby right? I tried several techniques that just weren't what I wanted or took too long before I decided to wing it and figure it out as I went. These look NOTHING like my inspiration.
This picture shows the before and after of the flower. On the bottom row is the cut from the Gypsy Wanderings cartridge. The flowers were cut at 2", 1.75", and 1.5" My initial plan was to layer them butI was thrilled with how they turned out. I will attempt to explain how I created these flowers, but if you get lost I don't blame you. It is easier to show you what I did, but I don't do videos. Sorry.


First: I folded each flower at the point between each petal. Second: Using that fold as a starting point, I folded one petal slightly over the next petal and finger crimped to the center. I did this between each petal.
Third: carefully, because it is a bugger, cup the flower so the new folds fold correctly.
Fourth: add a generous dollop of tacky glue and a Skittle to the center.

I made a lot:

Fifth: Using a Martha Stewart vine border punch, create several lengths of vines. Sixth: cut the vines into 2-3" lengths.

Seven: Using the Tacky glue again, attach the vine pieces to the back of each flower. Here are all of the drying:
And finished:

This is the set that each swap participant will receive: A close-up:
And the whole pile!
These were a lot of fun to make. They are very different from the other flowers I created. Tomorrow I will post pictures of each set for the flower swap.

Beautiful Cricut .cut files!

As I was skimming through the Cricut Messageboards this morning, I came across a post from a member sharing her cut files for "Edgy Albums" This is a direct link to her blog post, where you can see what she created and download the files. I believe they are created in the Design Studio, but they can be modified easily to be used on the Gypsy. Take some time to explore her blog, she has some fabulous files and designs.

Awesome Gypsy News!

If you have a Gypsy or are planning to get one - this latest news from Provo Craft is right up you alley!

Register a Gypsy by Cricut by October 31 and receive 6 free cartridges downloaded to your Gypsy including the exclusive, all-new “Smiley Cards” cartridge (and don't forget about Gypsy
Wanderings and Gypsy font cartridges that come pre-loaded on the machine).

Free cartridges include:

Smiley Cards (new and exclusive to this promotion)

Tags, Bags, Boxes and More (not available in retail)

Christmas (not available in retail)

Blackletter (not available in retail)

Printing Press (not available in retail)

Indie Art (not available in retail)

All current Gypsy owners included! Simply register your Gypsy prior to October 31, 2010 and get access to all downloads. Register at www.cricut.com/gypsy.

Downloads will be available through a special update to your Gypsy starting November 1st.

New Gypsy cartridge downloads are easy! Just connect your Gypsy to your computer and you'll automatically be prompted how to start. In just a few steps, you'll be able to download all six cartridges containing thousands of images! And with Gypsy, you'll have all the cartridge artwork and keypad overlays on your Gypsy screen, so there's no actual cartridge, handbook, or packaging.

In Loving Memory

I just finished a card for a friend. I call it "In Loving Memory".

I got the idea from another blog which I will get posted.

Originally, I designed it on the Gypsy. Unfortunately, the day I was scrapping at a hall, I forgot the cord to hook the G to the E!!!

I had to use the file I created to manually figure the card for the E to cut. I haven't had to do it that way in a while and it took a bit to remember how!!! I have become dependent on my Gypsy.

I used: Easter Cart, George, PDDU

Picture to be uploaded soon!

Easter 3D Card

I actually created and finished this card a few days ago, but have been unable to post until today.

The picture does not do it justice and I should have taken more. The elements were designed on the Gypsy and cut out with the Cricut, then pieced together by hand. I had to flatten some of the elements more than I wanted because I have to send this through the mail to my Grandson.

This was for a Gypsy swap using only Gypsy Font and Gypsy Wanderings - I cheated a bit since it was for a young boy and used a different cartridge, but I have the file created also using the Gypsy Font, which is what I am submitting for the swap.

A blue frame was cut with a cutout opening. I covered the inside of the opening with cellophane from the packaging I keep now from all my scrap products. The bunny and butterfly is layered and on thin popdots. The ivy in the upper right corner has two pieces on the background and one on the exterior of the card. The grass is layered on the background and behind the cellophane. The flowers are on the background and on the surface have curved petals. The "Easter Blessings" is welded and layered and attached to the surface.

Items stretched: frame and cutout; grass; ivy
Items welded: grass; title
Font used: Mickey & Friends
Small flowers: I didn't like the ones that I had cut with the Gypsy and didn't have time to figure out what size and image I wanted, so I just grabbed my flower punch that was on the table and used it.

Gypsy File : Filigree Lace

I created this background lace for 12x12 in about an hour the other day. This is an image of what it looks like - I cut it in navy blue and laid it on a large white folder for visibility.
It took about 10-15 minutes for the build and then about 15 mins to cut because of all the TINY pieces it had to cut out.

I am quite impressed though. It is the first big file and cut that I have done with my Gypsy and the Expression