Cricut Challenge: #4 Baby Steps and Fabric Cupcake

My challenge for today was to use the Baby Steps cartridge which is one of the newer Cricut cartridges to be released.  I love the new format in the manuals where it shows you the keypad and exactly which key to use.  My eyes are aging and I have a hard time seeing those darned tiny images!
There are lots of cute baby boy and baby girl images on this cartridge...as well as a cute font and some fun wordart.
I decided to use this cute cupcake image for my project today:

Since I used fabric yesterday I thought it would be fun to spruce up a plain old onesie for my new granddaughter to be.  I purchased the onesie at Walmart for $2.  They had some really cute colored ones but they were all soft pastel colors and the fabrics I wanted to use were bright so I chose a plain white one.
First of all I washed the onesie and the fabric to remove any sizing in it.  I read that you shouldn't use fabric softener as the bonding material will not adhere properly.
After I attached the fusible bonding to the fabric I ran it through my Cricut and ended up with some pieces like this:

I cut off the top piece (the cupcake had a candle on it) and decided not to use the flower.  I also cut off the cupcake top as I didn't want the black and white fabric to bleed through the pink cupcake bottom.

I used some fray check to make sure the pieces won't unravel.

Then I ironed the pieces onto the onesie to set them in place.

I then added a blanket stitch around the edges and sewed a button on top!

  I am happy with the way it turned out...and it really was easy peasy!!!

Cricut Challenge: #3 Accent Essentials with Fabric Flower

Today I worked with the Accent Essentials Cartridge, some fabric, and a sheet of clear acetate.  (You'll have to look close to see the acetate in the picture below...the card is slightly open and the embossed purple cardstock is on the inside of the card.)

It is an older cartridge...probably one of the first shape cartridges I purchased.  I think I purchased it because I loved all the flourish images in it and I have used it several times...althought not in quite a while. 
Interestingly...there are some basic images but many of the creative keys are non functional...you basically get the shape and a shadow and that's about it.  Still there are some cute things on this cartridge.

I decided I wanted to try my hand at cutting fabric on the Cricut.  I purchased some cotton fabric pieces at Joann's and ironed some fusible webbing to it.  I read several tutorials and watched some videos as well and most said to place the fabric on the mat with the fusible webbing up and the fabric against the sticky part of the mat.  I made sure I used a new blade...put my speed on slow...my blade pressure high and the depth at the maxium.    I cut several flower shapes in different sizes from the Accent Essentials cartridge and glued them together with a hot glue gun.  I had bought some acetate at Michael's today...first time I'd seen an entire pad of acetate in the scrapbooking section...the brand was "Recollections" which is Michael's own brand. 
I wanted to use the acetate so decided on a card...put some embossed cardstock on the inside (which I embossed with the Thank You Cuttlebug folder).  I secured the fabric flower to the front and tied some Stampin' Up ribbon near the top.  The Many Thanks sentiment is from Paper Trey Ink Fillable Frames 1 and was punched out with the SU word punch. 

I thought it turned out nicely and really didn't take long to make!

Cricut Challenge: #2 A Child's Year

On to Challenge Part 2!

I pulled out the second cartridge in my box, A Child's Year, which I have used a total of once to make a birthday card for my brother a year ago.

I got out the manual and started flipping through it and was amazed at all the cute designs on it.
I love the features on this cartridge....one feature I just love was that it cuts out a card.
Here is a shot of the image and card that I selected for this project:

As you can see in the screen shot above there is a card feature on the top right.  I love that!  You can get all kinds of decorative edges for your cards!

I used the following supplies:

Cardstock and printed paper: DCWV Linen Closet

Embossing Envelop: Script Texture by Cuttlebug

1 inch circle punch

Small Scalloped Punch by Fiskars

Swaroski Crystal: Hotfix by Jolee

Ribbon by Offray

Tim Holtz Distressing Tool

Birthday Wishes sentiment by Paper Trey Ink (Mixed Messages)

Ranger Ink Old Paper

Stampin' Up Chocolate Chip Ink

I used my Tim Holtz distressing tool to scuff up the edges and then used Ranger Ink Old Paper to distress the edges a bit more.  After adhering all the pieces I added a little bling to the girl's dress.  I love bling, as you know!

I cut the card at 5 1/2 inches (which will fit in a n A2 envelope).

I cut the mat at 5 inches and the girl image and shadow at 3 3/4 inches.

I added some paper to the inside and used Paper Trey Ink's Fillable Frames #1 (both the die and the stramps) for the sentiment.

I love the way this turned out!

I also made this one:

Don't you just love that scalloped edge?  I love, love, love it.  It's a brand new just released die from Paper Trey Ink.  It comes in two sizes for a horizontal cut or a vertical cut and is called Paper Edgers #3.  It retails for $12 which I think is very reasonable.  I run Paper Trey Ink dies through my Cuttlebug and get perfect cuts every time!   Very cool.  I used Linen Closet papers again by DCWV.  I added some small pearls from Recollections to the baby carriage and used a small sentiment from Paper Trey Ink (Mixed Messages) on the bottom right insde which says "Little One".   A little bit of thin pink organza ribbon tied at the top finished this simpler card off!

I really enjoyed working on these two cards and  learning a bit more about this awesome cartridge!

Cricut Challenge: #1 3 Birds on Parade

If you look at my post for yesterday you will see a herkin' (thanks, Donna!) big box of Cricut cartridges.  I have gotten obsessed with collecting them!  But many of them I have never really used nor could I even tell you what is on the cartridge.  So, I'm ready for a CHALLENGE!

I have decided to work my way through my cartridges and make at least one thing with each cartridge.  It may be a card, a scrapbooking layout, a vinyl project, a title for a layout...I'm not going to limit myself in that way but I will use each cartridge at some point.  That's my challenge.  I may not do it every day but I think this will be good for me because it will make me look at the books or overlays and see what all is on each cartridge!

For Challenge #1 I pulled out my never used 3 Birds on Parade.
 
I looked through the boook and saw some wonderful word art and a great looking font.  There are several creative keys...layers, shadows and more.  This cartridge could be used for many occasions...there are cute little layered birds for special events and holidays.  They are adorable.

I made this little princess card to announce the arrival of my soon to be born granddaughter ( we are about 2 weeks from the due date!). 



This cute little card was made with Paper Trey Ink papers, a Nestabilities Die (Labels Eleven), some grosgrain ribbon, and a Fiskars scalloped border punch.  I added a few gems so that our little princess would have some needed bling! The sentiment is from a set by 3 Bugs in a Rug.

One cartridge down...over 90 to go! :)

I Need a 12 Step Program!

OK....this just borders on silliness.  The only thing that makes me feel better is that my friend at AngelCakes Crafting has nearly double the cartridges I have! LOL!

I need a 12 step program...and then again...maybe I don't!

I did get into my craft room today but spent it tidying up...never did get around to creating!  I did make some file folders for my Cricut overlays and books and started thinking about this punch:

I use this punch all the time!  It's one I picked up thinking I'd use it a bit for scrapbooking and then would probably sell in a consignment sale.  I've had it about 5 years and use it often (it's beginning to show signs of wear and tear!)...for scrapbooking, card making and also for organizing.  It's a great one....if you can get your hands on one (this one is made by McGill) I'd highly recommend it.

New Toys!

My last 5 or 6 days have been busy, busy, busy!  I had a couple of houseguests and we had a great time taking in some of the sights of Atlanta as well as attending that fabulous shower for my daughter.  But now life is returning to normal and I was hoping to get into my craft room (sometimes I like to get all hoity toity and call it my "studio"!) and create this evening but I never got myself going!  Instead I got caught up on some stuff on my DVR.  Wasted evening!  But that's ok...there is always another day, right?

I was at Archiver's the other day and picked up another one of these Petal Rollers by Imaginisce.  Why did I need another one you ask?  Well, I had the one for fabric flowers which has a larger end than this one shown here which is for paper flowers. 

I also picked up a pack of these paper flowers:

There are six sheets of diecut flower spirals in each one...and each sheet has a different double sided print on  it...here are some of the prints:

To assemble the flower you first punch it out of the sheet like this:

Then you take your little slotted end on the tool which is similar to a quilling tool and put the thin outside end of your flower in and wind it up. 

After you do that you simple let it uncoil a little bit to the shape you want....here is one rolled up but loosened:

Then you can use your tool to curl the petals a little bit to give them a little more "natural" look.

And then you just drop some hot glue on the base and you have a perfectly cute dimensional flower.

And I am loving the dimensional flowers that are so in rage these days! 

My friend, Cyndi, was telling me that the Creating Keepsakes Tips and Tricks book is all about FLOWERS!  I need to pick up a copy soon!!!

My Creative Friends!

I am so lucky to be surrounded by creative people!  They are all so inspirational!  Two of my very special best friends hosted a baby "sprinkle" for my daughter yesterday.  What's a "sprinkle" you ask? It is a shower for a soon to be mommy of a second child.  Sort of a mini shower...of course, there was nothing "mini" about this sprinkle!

So here is an adorable diaper cake made by Cyndi...don't you love it?

And over to the right here you can see some party favors she made with really cute rosettes on the top.

And check these teddy bear candies Cyndi made:

I love sweets...could have eaten the entire tray!

And look at all these gifts...wow!!!  My daughter got some lovely, lovely things!!!  It was so much fun!

And now the waiting begins...less than 3 weeks to the due date!







Busy, Busy, Busy!

It seems like many of the bloggers I follow are busy, busy, busy these days with end of school activities, travel, etc.  I'm busy with the business of getting my granddaughter born!  OK, well, I don't have much to do with that physically...but I have been trying to help my daughter out some as she's getting close...
I kept my grandson the other night and loved every minute with him but he wears me out!!! In a good way of course.
I have a couple of houseguests for the next few days so will probably not be able to get into my getaway room much to create.  But I'll get back to that in a few...
I ran into Archiver's yesterday as I had a 30% off coupon to burn and was oh-so-good and practiced major restraint and only purchased this small 6x6 paper pad by Echo Park called Dots and Stripes.  It is just so cute...bright and cheerful papers...so very happy!  I love that it is double sided...I've talked about that before. 
Anyway, here are a few shots of the pad...I hear people stirring in other parts of the house so need to go for now!

More Gift Wrap

I don't love to gift wrap.  I sort of tolerate it...it's ok and I love pretty packages but I just don't like spending the time doing it.  Probably sort of weird since I'm a paper crafter but that's just the way it is...
My mother used to love to gift wrap...she would come up here each Christmas and we'd spend a day or two wrapping all the Christmas gifts...at my kitchen table...we'd have paper, scissors, tape, ribbon all over the place.  We'd share cups of coffee or if we were doing it in the evening...well, we'd have wine! :)  I miss those days...and I sure miss my mother!

:)

My daughter's shower is this Saturday and pretty soon we will be welcoming our new little baby girl into this world. I wrapped a few gifts with some white craft paper and then used my Cricut and my Tim Holtz rosette die to spruce up the boxes a bit. 
I used the Nursery Rhymes and the Storybook cartridges...these were fast and very easy!
Some of the paper is Martha Stewart and some is K&Company.  I made the flowers from a flower template off the DCWV blog.

And that's it for today!

Look at What Was Delivered Today!

I came home from running a few errands and there was a big box at my door!  Yay...my Your Story had arrived.  The Your Story is  a Provocraft product that binds books as well as laminates items.  Now let me tell you...I got a GREAT deal on this...one the sites I buy Cricut cartridges from (CricutMachine.com) had a fabulous Mother's Day special.  Basically I only had to buy a Cricut cartridge and the Your Story Bundle was FREE (ok, well I did have to pay shipping)!  What a great deal!!!
So...what was in the box?
First of all....

This is the Your Story machine.  It is sleek and just plain old cute...AND it matches my special edition Cuttlebug!

Second was a rotary paper trimmer:

...complete with 3 blades.  I haven't tried it yet and rotary trimmers are not my favorite but I will say this is very sturdy...with a metal base so I may actually give it a whirl!  The three little blades are housed at the top...isn't that cute?  And again...it's matches the Your Story and Cuttlebug machines.

Third was the instruction manual (very simple!), a package of laminating pouches and a package of binding covers. 
Oh...and did I say all of that was free?
I love free!
Do I know how I'm going to use it?  Not really...I may make a few little books...I do want to laminate a few things like my Cuttlebug sandwich recipe chart (!) so will try that out soon...
And what cartridge did I choose?
I bought the Martha Stewart Elegant Cakes cartridge. 

It has some pretty elegant images as well as a couple of really nice fonts.

I can't wait to try out all my new toys!

Scrapbooking With the Cricut

I'm busy this week...have a few people coming in from out of town so may not get down the business of creating for a few days.  We'll see....sometimes I need to feed my addiction to keep going! :)

So, I have been whipping out cards right and left...but now I need to get back to the business of doing some scrapbooking!  I love using my Cricut for scrapbooking...I used to just use it for titles but now there are so many cute images available that I'm using it more for scrapbooking.  And I'm liking making my own embellishments with it....I don't know about you but when I go to buy cute little things for my pages at Archiver's or anywhere they sell scrapbooking supplies...WELL, IT CAN START GETTING EXPENSIVE!!!   Of course, by the time you factor in the cost of the Cricut(s) and all the cartridges, mats, blades, etc.....well, I think the cost for each of my pages is probably about $63.52!  HAHA!

Here are a few pages I've done in the past several months...

The one above was just a simple one done with the Winter Frolic cartridge.  I just cut and layered some snowflakes and the Let it Snow word art.  I also added a bit of bling.  We don't get all that much snow in Atlanta so when we do it is cause for a layout!

My "Sweet Memories" layout was done about a day we spent with our little one at the mall.  Well, not a day...but a few hours.  The Sweet Memories word art is also from the Winter Frolic cartridge.  I did the train with on my Gypsy and made some changes to the shape following an idea I'd seen on another blog....I can't recall which cartridge the train came from but there are lots and lots of train images available!
The last page I'm showing today is this one:

The Santa was done with Joys of the Season...don't recall right now what the little presents were done with but again, there are lots of images on the Cricut cartridges for those kind of images.

I love how these layouts turned out....I NEED to get back into scrapbooking with the Cricut!  Have I motivated myself?  We'll see!!!





Baby Girl Card

Ok....Shhhhhh.....! I made this card for my daughter who is going to have a baby girl in a few weeks. A couple of my closest friends are having a "sprinkle" for her (instead of a shower) as this is her second child. Isn't that a cute idea?

This card may look familiar to you if you subscribe to the Cricut magazine or were able to get your hands on the premier copy.  This was a shameless scraplift...although I did change a few things, of course....gotta make it my own, you know!

This card is sized at 4 1/4 by 5 1/2 inches.  I used some kraft cardstock for the card base, cut a rectangle slightly smaller than the card base and ahered another Kraft rectangle on top (which I'd run through my Cuttlebug with the Swiss Dots embossing folder. 

I didn't have any cloud paper but I had a cute cloud stamp from the Jillibean Blossom Soup which was co-branded with Unity (love my Unity stamps!) and was stamped randomly on a 3 1/4" square of aqua paper. 

Using the Straight From the Nest Cricut Cartridge I cut the clothesline at 3" in brown, white, and pink.  I cut off the actual clothesline and cut the clothes from the white and pink papers.  I used some brown twine to make the clothesline rope. I cut the grass at about 1 1/2" and adhere all to the front of the card.  The scalloped punch along the bottom of the pink paper was done with a Fiskars border punch. I wrapped some twine around the bottom of the grass and used some to tie through a button.  The word "baby" is from a set of clear Heidi Grace stamps I have and was stamped on a 1" circle of white cardstock which was adhered to the medium scalloped circle punch by Fiskars.

I added a little bling because that's what we do!

I just think it turned out soooo cute...and I know my daughter will love it!

Graduation Card

I've made a couple of different graduation cards the past couple of weeks and decided to make another this evening...I'm never sure exactly how many announcements I'll get but this year I got quite a few.  I happened to be snooping around in the Basement Stamper's blog and she made a really great card following this sketch from Lisa Somerville who has provided it for a blog hop.

I decided to hop on and made this graduation card:

I used some basic black cardstock for the base of the 5 1/2 by 4 1/4 inch card.  I had some striped graduation paper scraps so uses some of that to make my striped layers across the bottom.  I used  a Nestabilities die for the lacy scalloped circle (I LOVE THAT SET!) with some metallic paper with a nice sheen....then used the Studio G sentiment with some StazOn on a scalloped circle (done with a Fiskars punch).  To finish it off I used a few metal nail heads and adhered them with my iRock.  I love how the big scallop circle is only partially showing...and is tucked behind the strips.  Love that look.

Oh and I also used my brand new just bought yesterday Recollections dotted line punch that I got at Michael's.  My verdict on the punch...it's great!  It even has a little closed receptable to catch your scraps!  Love that...no little teensy pieces all over the table!

You can't see the inside but I cut a piece of white cardstock and stamped "Congratulations" with a Techniques Tuesday stamp with Versamark and used some Zing Metallic Finish embossing powder...and no, my friends, I didn't burn anything! I promise!!! 

I'll stick a little check inside this card for the recipient.  How can she NOT like it?  :)

Happy Crafting!



And here is the blog hop!