Happy Birthday to ?

I have been wanting Anna Griffin's Fantastic Flip Cards Cricut cartridge for a long time.  This morning, I decided to plop down my money (okay, my credit card); now it's mine!

This card is my second attempt.  It only took about six hours.  Hopefully practice will shorten the production time!

It's someone's birthday!

 

Today is my husband's birthday.  It's difficult to make a card for a man so I spent a lot of time searching Pinterest for ideas.  I saw a card similar to this, and knew that it would work.

 

I used Tim Holtz's stamp for the mesh background along with some gold ink.  Then I had the sentiment already embossed on vellum with copper powder.  To tie the two together, I cut two feathers with my Cricut Explore and then used gold and copper ink to color the white cardstock.  I hope he likes it! 

 

I also am keeping my fingers crossed that the Cleveland Indians win tonight ... a World Series T-shirt might be in his future <wink>.

Creative Chemistry 101 - Summer of 2016 week 2

I am taking (actually retaking) Creative Chemistry 101 and 102.  This week's challenge is to work with stains to create backgrounds.  I love how this turned out!

I also am adding two files to a Facebook group that shares Cricut Explore files.  The first file is the background of circles.  I saw a die on a website and figured it would be easy to recreate ... and it was! The second file I am sharing is the hello cut.  There are also several other words in the file as well.

Happy Mother's Day to Becca

Oliver and I created this card for him to give to his mommy for her second Mother's Day.  I saw this card a long time ago and pinned it to my Pinterest account.  However, when I went to check on it, the link didn't take me to the card any more.  What a fun, easy card to create!  And to think I used my Cricut for the entire card except the base.

Go Browns!

My first (but not last) vinyl project:  a glass cutting board.  This is being donated to the Naples Browns Backers club for the raffle today.

Candy Bag

I've been trying to figure out how to make a candy bag holder using my Cricut Explore.  Well, today I found a file on a Facebook group.  I really liked the file that Virginia Polson created, but I decided to take it a few steps further.  She used some elements that required a purchase, and I didn't want to do that.  In addition, I wanted to add some holes to make it easier to tie a ribbon to hold everything in place.  So, this is what I came up with:

I am home today under the weather, so I didn't have an opportunity to go out to purchase candy and bags for the creation.

Everything for this is free in Design Space, so if you are a Cricut Explore user, I invite you to check it out at this link:  https://us.cricut.com/design/#/canvas/32492144

The Journey is a State of Mind

Now that school is back in session, I find myself just spending some time looking at blogs.  The hours that I spent this summer playing in my craft space are a faint memory.  Today is my day to play (okay, and to do some housework before the house is condemned!).  I used my Cricut Explore Air to set up the cuts for this card ... super easy!  My inspiration is from Mojo Monday's #414 Contest.

I think that I will send it to my friend for his birthday since he loves to travel.  Speaking of birthdays, wouldn't it be so cool if I win this contest?  Why? you ask.  Well, Monday is MY birthday. 

Happy birthday to Sister!

Someone had a birthday on Saturday, and that someone is Sister!

Have I mentioned how much I am loving my Explore Air?  I cut this card using the Elegant Embellishments cartridge.  Look how intricate the cuts are!

And that flower and leaf combination?  To die for!  I cut both out of plain cardstock and then used the same colors for the bottom layer and the top layer but just did the bottom layer a bit darker.  (Does that make sense?)

I sure do hope she likes it as much as I liked making it!

Thinking of You

The other day (and night), I was playing around with my Explore.  It was a very productive day, both from a product standpoint, but also from a learning standpoint. 

I downloaded some free cutting files from Birds Cards, and this was one of them. One of my friends is under the weather, so this is going out in the mail to her today.

I am entering this in Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday Challenge blog titled Simon Says Sparkle and Shine.

Welcome!

This is a fun banner that I created using my Explore.  I would like to add to it, maybe with some rosettes. 

 

Happy 18th Birthday to Haley

I belong to a Cricut Explore group on Facebook, and one of the members posted this last week:

My girlfriend's granddaughter (she has had custody for 15 years), is turning 18 on July 22. She is developmentally delayed and squeals with delight each time she receives a handmade card. ... but I'd like to ask if anyone could, or would care to pm me regarding making her a card for her 18th birthday. She is so excited about turning 18. Even though she will never drive a car, be able to make change or do some of the things we take for granted, this child always has a smile and hug and is a delight to be around. I would love to shower her with homemade cards for her birthday. I made her a princess castle card that she has on her dresser and she thanks me for it every time she sees it!! I can imagine what she would do with a bunch of handmade cards but I'd be willing to post pictures!!!

I thought that this is such a kind thing for the lady to do.  And it gave me a perfect opportunity to work on learning how to use my machine.  So off I went, and I found the cut file for this card.  The free cut file is from Narelle Darley, one of the best Cricuteers out there.  Be sure to check out her site for some good ideas!

 

 

Thank you to Sister and The Runner

I visited Sister and The Runner in June and had a marvelous time!  She and I went to Whitworth Ranch Retreat for four nights for a great craft retreat.  Then we relaxed prior to attending the Great American Scrapbook Convention where we walked our (already short!) legs even shorter.  When I returned home, I decided that I had to have a Cricut Explore Air.  This is one of the first projects that I created using it. The card went on its merry way to Sister and The Runner to thank them for their hospitality.

June 2015 Tag

This month, Tim Holtz demonstrated a technique to create a plaid design on a tag.  His tag is just so creative (as always).  This is what his looks like: 

 

And here is my interpretation of his tag:

 

 

We have a gift exchange at the end-of-the-school-year teacher luncheon tomorrow.  So I used what I have to make my tag.  I did have the stencil that he used, but I just used my Distress Ink pads instead of the custom one he created.  I don't have his coffee cup die, so I cut out a cup with my Cricut.  It's not easy to see it, but the "steam" is gussied up with a Wink of Stella clear pen.  And instead of using the hashtag stamp, I added one of Tim's stamps on the bottom of the tag.  This tag was then adhered to some designer paper with a space left open to slip in a gift card, similar to what Tim did.  The lucky recipient will also find a bag of Colombian coffee in the bag.  I hope he/she enjoys it.

 

Remember this:

Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right!

One cut ... two ways

In today's Online Card Class called Stretch Your Dies, we learned how to use our mini dies in a variety of ways.  I don't have a lot of dies, but I do have a Cricut Expression 2!  So, using Cricut Craft Room, I managed to lay out all of these tiny stars.  I then cut them out along with my Simon Says Stamp Thanks Craft Die S202.  I used the cut out to adhere the pieces to a piece of white cardstock.  Then I added the green cardstock to another white card blank to make a second version.  Cool beans!

Don't forget: Whether you think you can or you think you can't ... you're right!

Don't stand too still ...

... or you might have vinyl adhered to you!  I am on a vinyl-cutting spree, mostly because I just love the way my Cricut cuts the vinyl.  These creations all adorn my crafting space.

This one sits above the sink in the craft area (a.k.a. laundry room).  I see it when I walk into the room, and it gently reminds me that I need to laugh.  A lot.  This is blue vinyl (although it looks black) from the Cricut vinyl pack. Aren't those letters just too cute?

 

As a professional worrier, this should be my mantra. I used my new 12x24 mat to cut this.  The largest be happy letters are 4" tall. The hearts and be happy are all black vinyl.  The large roll of black Contact paper was a very inexpensive purchase from Home Depot.  I think the label said that it is faux leather, and there's definitely a texture to it.  Great deal, by the way. The don't worry is wood-grain Contact paper.

 

I don't need too much reminding to enjoy life, but a gentle nudge never hurts, does it? This time, it's pink Cricut vinyl.

 

The entry into my crafting studio (ahem ... laundry room) reminds me to create.  So I do. More of the black leather Contact paper.

 

As I said ... don't stand still too long ... you might be labeled!

 

I'm on a roll!

A few days ago, I spent the entire afternoon rearranging my craft space. It's a sight to behold now!  (Before and after pictures posted in the near future.)

I enrolled in Tim Holtz's Creative Chemistry 102 class last week, and yesterday/today I made a few cards.  This is just one of them. I used my Expression 2 (along with Cricut Craft Room) to cut out the palm tree and sun and added some glitz and glimmer to them both.  Enjoy!

Valentines!

I found a really cute card sketch online (wish I could remember the site!), so I used it ... along with variations ... to make my cards this year.  It's interesting how using the same papers and embellishments with different layouts can make every card look unique.  Enjoy!

12 Tags of 2014 - January edition

Ever since the first day of January, I have been racking my brain to figure out what to create.  Then, this morning, it all fell into place.  Here's my creation, followed by some explanations:

Everything used in the creation of this tag is something that is in my stash.  (I'm also entering this tag in Our Creative Corner's No More Shopping Sins! challenge.  However, I don't think anything is a "sin" that I have ... I certainly don't regret buying any of it. Probably the hitch fasteners are the purchase that was the most "must have" in the bunch ... I purchased it via eBay to use on another project, but it didn't work out.)

I hope that the recipient of this "grungy" Valentine feels some warmth, especially since we've been having some cold (in SW Florida terms!) weather.  I'm entering this into Frilly and Funkie's The Warmth of Winter challenge as well.

I used many of Tim's techniques from the January 2014 tag post, but I changed it up quite a bit.  I was determined that I would only use what I have in my stash to complete it.  Wow!  Did I have to become creative (LOL!).  I made my own stencil (for the background) by laminating some cardstock and then cutting out a gajillion circles on my E2. The key and heart are grungeboard elements that I covered in duct tape, embossed and painted.  The ticket is from my school supply stash, painted and stamped with individual letter stamps.  I love the mesh ribbon (?) that I used with some twine.  The tag is cut on my Cricut Expression 2 from some leftover cover material from a tablet that I use in my classroom.  As you can see ... this is a recyled, stash-using project!

Notice how I covered the back as well?  I did it for two reasons:  1.) to use it as a Valentine and 2.) to cover the printing.