The Cricut Circle Monthly Challenge

It seems like doing my crafts has taken a big back seat to life in general! What little free time I have lately I just prefer to sit and veg! So, projects aren't happening much but I sure enjoy them when I do get the chance to create!

This challenge was great since the topic is all about creating. Following the rules of the challenge I made a scrapbook page paying tribute to my favorite new tool to create with - the Cricut Imagine. We had to use at least two cuts, the shadow feature, patterned paper and some bling. I used the Imagine Country Carnival cartridge for all the patterned paper in this layout and for the word "Imagine". I also used the Songbird cartridge for the font and shapes and used the patterned paper from the Country Carnival to fill them in. It's really great to be able to use both cartridges together! I love the no guess work in putting together the patterned paper for a project- it's all done for you on the cartridge as everything is coordinated to go together! The picture in this layout is the Imagine with part of this project laying in the tray. I think I may get a scrapbook frame for this one page layout and hang it in the room where I do my crafting.

To create this LO I used:
Cricut Imagine
Country Carnival Imagine cartridge
Songbird cartridge
Kraft cardstock from My Minds Eye
I Rock

I would love to win this challenge! Thanks for stopping by to take a peek!

Cricut Circle Blog Weekly Challenge #1

The challenge this week was to use the French Manor cartridge on a project. Also, we needed to use at least two cuts and include pearls or jewels. You can check out the challenge here. I have just become a Circle member so it was nice to jump in and make something with this new cartridge. It was also really fun to use the Imagine to print and cut everything on this card (except the Kraft cardstock).

This 5x7 card was made using:
Cricut Imagine Best Friends cartridge for all the pattern/solid paper
French Manor cartridge-birdcage, bird and table
Cuttlebug
pearls
Hero Arts stamp
Bazzill Kraft cardstock
brown chalk ink
Copic warm gray marker
pop dots

I used the Copic marker to add shading on the table to give it a little more dimension. And since its HP ink, it didn't run! I'm excited to be able to use my Copics with Imagine machine creations.

Thanks for taking a peak! Have a great day.

A Layout using the Cricut Imagine

I am so behind on my scrapbooking! It is time to put the Imagine to work on layouts. I only had one picture from my daughter's very first slumber party. And I saved the invitation so I used it too. I almost never scrapbook with one photo - I usually have lots that I try to cram in! So it was fun to use the Imagine to fill in some of the empty space! I did conceal the photo and journaling for privacy which makes the LO look a little wierd in the photo-oh well!

This 12x12 one page layout was made using:
Cricut Imagine Best Friends cartridge
DCWV cardstock

I'm enjoying my new toy! Thanks for taking a look. If you're visiting here and have a blog where you're sharing your Imagine creations, please leave me a comment with your blog url. I'd love to visit YOU!

Throwback Thursday Challenge 98

If you visit Emma's blog you'll find this weeks challenge. We are to make a project/card without using the Cricut. We have so many fancy tools these days but it really doesn't take anything too fancy to make a nice card.

This A2 card was made using:
DCWV card
VersaMark stamp pad
clear embossing powder
pigment ink
Hero Arts sentiment stamp
flower clear stamp
silk flowers

If you stamp with VersaMark and then heat emboss with clear embossing powder you get this really shiney, fun impression on your card! Simple but nice.

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!

Thanks for stopping by to take a look!

Peachy Keen Stamps Challenge #36

This challenge was both a sketch and a color challenge. A little tougher for me! Find the challenge here.

I needed a card for a new baby. The Nursery Tails cartridge for the Imagine is really cute so that's what I used and I tried to incorporate the colors melon, daffodil and cobalt. You have to look closely but there is cobalt blue there in my card! This was my first project using the Imagine so it was a learning adventure for sure.

This 4 in. x 9 in. card was made using:
K & Co cardstock
Cricut Imagine Nursery Tails cartridge
ribbon from JoAnn's
flower- Dazzlers by Petalloo

Thanks PK for a great challenge!

Throwback Thursday Challenge 93

This card was made for this week's Throwback Thursday Challenge at Emma's blog. This is kind of a throwback with a twist. I used an older cartridge but I made it on the new Cricut Imagine! I have to say that making Hello Kitty on the Imagine is great - especially since she is predominantly white so less ink is used up. I also love Hello Kitty dressed in patterns instead of the usual solid colors. It was fun to make her on the new machine.

This card is approx. 5 in. x 6 in. - I'm still trying to figure out how to change the object I want to cut (the scalloped patterned paper) true size. It didn't turn out the size I wanted for a 5 in. x 7 in. card so I just trimmed the card.

I used the Hello Kitty Greetings cartridge and the Imagine Best Friends cartridge (fun patterned paper on this one). The stamp is from Hero Arts.

Have a super day!

A Card for Digital Tuesday Challenge #75 and Fab'n'funky Challenge #39

School has started and the busyness of the first days of school and new routine has begun! Just stopping in quickly to post my creation for the Digital Tuesday Challenge #75 - dots and stripes. Find this challenge here. Also entering my first Fab'n'funky Challenge (#39) which can be found here.

Have a great day!

Another Card!

Well, I made this card for the Peachy Keen Challenge 35 - a color and sketch challenge - but I'm late. I missed the deadline. Oh well! Seems to be how it goes when time is very limited to craft.

This 5x7 card was made using:

DCWV cardstock
Peachy Keen Stamps large fun flower
Copic markers
rhinestones

Have a great day!

Calling All Princesses Throwback Thursday Challenge

Head over here to Emma's blog to check out the challenge this week. I'm getting mine online with just minutes to spare! I made this card today for my daughter's 4th birthday! She loves Cinderella!

This card was made using:

Disney Happily Ever After cartridge
Hero Arts photopolymer stamps
Cuttlebug Swiss Dot folder
Martha Stewart border punch


In my Gypsy, I took a square with rounded corners from the Gypsy Wanderings cartridge and then took the Cinderella image and overlapped it so she is just off the edge of the card. Then I welded them together. This made the body of the card and I think it gives the card a bit more dimension. Then of course I cut out all the pieces of Cinderella and put her all together - that was a bit of a chore. Not sure I'm really happy with how her face turned out but not sure how I could have made it better.

My baby is 4 on Sunday! She is my precious little princess!!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Back to School!

This card was made for the Throwback Thursday Challenge #9 at Emma's blog - click here and the Paper Cutz Challenge #54 - click here. Both challenges are for a Back to School themed project. It was also made for the My Pink Stamper Challenge which is to make an animal or critter themed project. You can find Robyn's blog here.

It's been such a great summer and I can't believe school is just around the corner! I've had a few moments this summer when I was wishing school would hurry up and start ;-) but most of the time not. What a blessing children are -during the challenging moments as well as the fun ones. There's been a whole lot of giggling and laughing and playing around our house this summer and it was AWESOME!

This card is a shape card and is approx. 5.5 inches high by 4 inches wide and was made using:
Hello Kitty Greetings cartridge
Create A Critter cartridge - the cute worm
Gypsy Font cartridge
DCWV cardstock
Peachy Keen Stamps Critter Faces Set A Medium
Sakura white Jelly Roll pen

Thank you to Emma, the ladies at Paper Cutz and to Robyn for a fun challenge!

And thank you to YOU for stopping by to take a look. Your comments make me smile - I appreciate them!!

Have a super day!

A Card for Peachy Keen Challenge #34

This is my card for the Peachy Keen Challenge #34 which is a sketch challenge. You can see it here. I think these little gumdrops turned out so cute with their expressive little faces! Inside the card it says "it's your Birthday!".

This 5x7 card was made using:
Just Because Cards cartridge
Peachy Keen Stamps Everyday Character Faces Assortment
DCWV cardstock
Sakura white Jelly Roll pen
EK Success border punch

Goody gumdrops - my second PK challenge! Thanks PKS!

Thanks for stopping by to take a look!

Masculine Birthday Card

Haven't been in the craft room for awhile and boy have I missed it! All my "extra" time has gone to cleaning the house which I'm way behind on. I was thinking to myself that I was doing spring cleaning - uh, a little late. Then of course today I needed a card and I needed it now. Nothing like waiting till the very last minute! Cards for men are a little more challenging for me and probably for a lot of card makers I suspect. So I tried to think "manly" and thought of trucks. The great thing about having the Gypsy is all I had to do is search in the Gypsy and that way I could find a truck. Fortunately, I had the cartridge I needed.

I've really enjoyed making shape cards. The Gypsy makes it possible and easy. So, this truck is a shape card made by welding together two trucks. It comes from the Just Because Cards cartridge. I've not made one of their cards from this cartridge but the images on it are fun and varied and you can just use them for your own card designs.

This card is approximately 8 inches long and was made using:

Just Because Cards cartridge
DCWV and Coredinations cardstock
Hero Arts photo polymer clear stamp - sentiment
frost white pigment ink with clear embossing powder - heat embossed

Just a note about stamping. Photo polymer clear stamps are much superior to clear acrylic stamps. Your stamped image will be crisper and the clear stamp itself will last longer and will give you the same consistent quality stamped image over time. I noticed that Hero Arts clear stamps are photo polymer - they're the same price as many brands of the clear acrylic version. So check it out and happy stamping!

Thanks for stopping by!

The Sweet Stop Challenge SSS67- Birthday Card

This is a card for The Sweet Stop Sketch Challenge SSS67. Click here to go to their blog. It's fun to color with Copic markers! If you enjoyed coloring as a kid, you'll definitely enjoy it now using these great tools. I bought my first set through Joann's online using a coupon! Not sure if they still carry them or accept coupons when purchasing them but it's worth looking into.

This 5x7 card was made using:

DCWV cardstock
Hero Arts clear stamp (sentiment)
black pigment ink, clear embossing powder - heat embossed
free online clip art
Copic markers
black eyelets
black ribbon
double loop border punch-Martha Stewart

I really enjoyed making this card. Thanks very much for stopping by to take a look! And thanks so much for your comments - they brighten my day!

Cricut Cardz Challenge #35 - Get Well Soon Card

This card was made for the Cricut Cardz Challenge #35 (click here) - make a Get Well card with the Cricut using green, blue, black and white only! Well, the first thing I thought of for the black and white was Hello Kitty. Once that was in my mind I couldn't make my mind go anywhere else!

This card is approx. 6 inches long and was made using:

Hello Kitty Greetings cartridge - card feature
DCWV cardstock
blue rhinestone in her bow
clear stamp, black pigment ink - heat embossed

Hope you enjoyed my simple card. Thanks for taking a look!

A Card for the Sweet Stop Challenge SSS66

I have found sketches are so helpful to me when making cards or scrapbook layouts. So, sketch challenges have given me the prod to get going and make something. This card was made for The Sweet Stop Challenge SSS66 - find them here.

This 5x7 card was made using:
DCWV cardstock
free online clipart
Copic markers
Hero Arts clear stamp - sentiment
black pigment ink and clear embossing powder - heat embossed
Martha Stewart double loop corner punch
white Sakura jelly roll pen
polka dot ribbon

Happy card making!!!!

Throwback Thursday Challenge #8 and Cricut Cardz Challenge #34

I made this birthday card for the Throwback Thursday Challenge #8 at My Creative Time with Emma. Click on the button to the right and you'll have the link. Although I don't have many older cartridges, it's really fun to participate. Thanks Emma!

I'm also entering this card into my first Cricut Cardz Challenge. Find it here.

This 5x7 card was made using:
DCWV cardstock
Potpourri Basket cartridge-sentiment
Straight From the Nest cartridge-cupcake
white Sakura Jelly Roll pen
tiny pearls

Thanks so much for taking a look! And thanks for your comments - I really appreciate them!

Thanks also to my new Followers! I'm blown away! This blog is very new and I never really dreamed many people would view my blog let alone follow :-) . I've enjoyed visiting your blogs and am amazed at your inspiring talent and creativity!

Have a great day.

Camping Scrapbooking Layout - PKS Challenge33

We just recently returned from a camping trip to Yosemite. I use the term camping loosely as we rented an RV for our trip! We didn't have hookups though so minus the beds, stove, oven, lights, and bathroom it was just like old fashion camping!!! It was quite an adventure especially when we broke down on the journey and then arrived at our campsite at midnight. Oh, did I mention the exciting and awesome driving my husband did on the very curvy mountain roads in the pitch dark - with road construction and gravel. You get the idea. I may have sprouted a few gray hairs that day but once we arrived and parked we had a wonderful time in Yosemite.

I did this layout for the Peachy Keen Stamps Challenge 33 - Sketch. Head on over there at http://www.peachykeenstampschallenge.blogspot.com/ and check it out. Am I the only one who is SO behind with my scrapbooking?! I guess the thing to do is just get started with scrapping some event (any event) instead of fretting and feeling overwhelmed. So, that's what I did with this - get inspired and motivated by a challenge and scrap a recent event.

Click on the picture to get a better look if you want to.

The recipe for this 12x12 two page layout:

Peachy Keen Stamps Everyday Character Face Assortment - for the sun face
Potpourri Basket Cricut cartridge - RV (I used the hide contour feature on the Gypsy to alter the school bus and made it into an RV), pine trees, pinecone, campfire
Life is a Beach Cricut cartridge - sun, font
Gypsy Font
Bo Bunny paper
Coredinations cardstock
atd pattern paper

Hope you enjoy this camping layout!

Throwback Thursday Challenge #7

I made this card for My Creative Time with Emma's Throwback Thursday Challenge #7. Check out her blog by clicking on her blinkie button on this blog under Favorites. The challenge was to make a card for your favorite holiday using the Wild Card cartridge or any other cartridge if you don't own that one. Since I don't have Wild Card I used two other cartridges along with my Gypsy to make this card. Create A Critter cartridge is not an old cartridge but since I've only had my Cricut since March I don't have many of the older cartridges. I used the Create A Critter for the surfing turkey. The surf board, wave and 'hang loose' hand all come from the Life is a Beach cartridge. I'm sure you are wondering how in the world I came up with the idea of a surfing turkey! I'm not quite sure! I guess I was trying to incorporate an older cartridge and when Life is a Beach came to mind I was thinking beachy thoughts which I incorporated with my favorite holiday of Thanksgiving! It's so hot here that my brain is probably just fried! If nothing else this card is original ;-)


This is a 6 inch by 6.25 inch card and will fit in a 6x9 envelope. I designed the card on my Gypsy. As you can see the turkey opens to reveal the sentiment. I did this by making two turkey shadows, flipping one upside down and then welding them together at the top of their hats.

Recipe:

Create A Critter cartridge
Life is a Beach cartridge
Cuttlebug embossing folders: herringbone, swirls, swiss dot
cardstock: DCWV, Coredinations
clear stamps, black pigment ink, clear embossing powder
white Sakura jelly roll pen

I hope you enjoyed my surfing turkey card! Since I live in Southern California I think it's appropriate and fun and I can hardly wait till November to send it to some friends who are surfers. But they're not turkeys!

Bridal Shower Card

Isn't this Hot Off The Press rose paper so elegant? It just says bride! This is a very easy, simple A2 card (with the crease on the 4.25 inch side) using pretty patterned paper, sheer white ribbon, a heat embossed sentiment and a few pearls to add dimension and an extra touch. It took very little time to make but I think it looks really beautiful! Just like the bride!

Child's Birthday Card

After a wonderful camping trip with my family to Yosemite National Park I am back home, trying to manage mountains of laundry and get back to crafting too! Today we made a card for my daughter's friends birthday party. My daughter and I talked about what she wanted and then I put it together using the Gypsy. If you own a Cricut you really must have either the Gypsy or Design Studio - they give you so many more options and take designs to another level! In the wee hours of the night after putting it together on the Gypsy I just HAD to cut it out and see how it looked. Then, I couldn't wait to see it put together - so I did it and decided I would cut it out again in the morning for my daughter to put together on her own for her friend. Too cute! What a fun card! I used the Create A Critter cartridge for the dog and Just Because Cards for the wagon. I welded the two together and made a folding card in that shape. The card stands about 5 inches tall. On my card you'll see that the dog's helmet has the number '1' just as it appears on the cartridge. Well, when I cut it out for my daughter's friend I changed the number (using the Gypsy) to the birthday boy's age. Great to be able to do that now since they've given us a hide contour option on the Gypsy-I just used that feature and then welded in the number I wanted from a font cartridge!

Hope you enjoyed my card! Have a great day.

A Card for A New Baby

I used the Gypsy to make this bottle card. I took the bottle image shadow from the Gypsy Wanderings cartridge and welded two together to make the actual card. The bottle image was cut using K & Co. paper. The sentiment is from Gypsy Wanderings also although the "OH" was from the Sesame Street Font cartridge. I doodled the stitch marks and dots using a white Sakura Jelly Roll pen. I finished off the card with hemp twine and stickles. I think it turned out pretty cute!

Fabulous Friends

Wouldn't life be so much less interesting and a lot less fun without friends?! That was my inspiration for this card. Free online clip art provided this cute dancing bear. HP ink from my printer does just fine with Copic markers - remember to be careful with the kind of ink you use with these markers. The border punch is from Martha Stewart - I thought it added a feminine touch! The sentiment is from an acrylic stamp which was stamped with black pigment ink and heat embossed using clear embossing powder. I only use clear embossing powder as I have many colors of ink. So, no need to buy lots of colors of embossing powders if you already have several colors of ink.

Be sure to hug a friend today!

Sweet, Sweet Summer!

Oh the joys of sleeping in a little bit, taking the kids to the park, swinging on the swings and having a picnic! Ah, summer! How sweet it is! So, today I'm sharing a card featuring some sweet strawberries - a perfect summer treat. This is a rubber cling stamp for which I wish I could give the designer/manufacturer credit but I threw out the package some time ago. I used Memento Tuxedo Black ink by Tsukneko. The ink you use with Copic markers is very important. This one doesn't run and therefore doesn't ruin your expensive Copic marker! Also, I stamped the image on Georgia Pacific white cardstock which I got for a good price at Walmart. I think this cardstock is great to use with Copics and I have tried more expensive brands. The red background is embossed using the Cuttlebug and the Swiss Dot folder. Boy, I get a lot of use out of that Swiss Dot folder!! The black ribbon is from Joann's. Did you notice that the image is crooked on the card? Yep, what a bummer but hey nothing is ever perfect anyway!

Enjoy your summer and all the sweet moments shared with your family!

Welcome To My First Follower!

A shout out to Robyn a.k.a. My Pink Stamper who is my first (and only) follower! Robyn you made my day! If you haven't seen Robyn's blog you must take a look - www.mypinkstamper.com . I have been checking in there almost everyday since becoming aware of Robyn at the CHA convention in Anaheim, CA this past winter. I really enjoy her projects and videos! I "studied" lots of her videos before purchasing my Cricut and they helped me immensely once I got my machine! Thanks again Robyn- I'm honored to have you here.

Chris

Sometimes Simple is Best

I'm enjoying the Hello Kitty Greetings cartridge. They have a shaped card feature that is really great. I cut out the cupcake card and all the layers and my daughter put it all together as a birthday card for a party she went to today. So quick and easy and cute - and so much cheaper than buying a card.

Today I'm sharing the flower card from the same cartridge. Super simple and super cute. The Gypsy makes it so easy to put together- just select all the layers in a group and then size them together. Then I ungroup them and move them around the mat to make putting the paper on the actual mat easy. That way I can use my scraps!

Happy card making!

Gotta Love Copic Markers!

I guess I'm a kid at heart who likes to color. That's what I feel like when I you use Copic markers. And there are lots of great things to color with online digital stamps (many for free by the way) and free online clip art. I love the versatility with both of these as you can make your image whatever size you want. In this 5x7 card I colored a cute Precious Moments clip art scene I copied for free online. The papers are from Basic Grey. The border punch is from Martha Stewart.

Create A Critter Cartridge

This is a fun cartridge! Aren't the animals on this cartridge just the cutest?! For this 9x4 card I cut the squirrel at 3.25 in. and the heart balloon at 3 in. I used DCWV Flower Spring stack for the background papers and Core Coordinate cardstock for the squirrel. The balloon and part of the squirrel's tail was embossed using the Swiss Dot folder on the Cuttlebug. I can tell I'm going to be using the Create A Critter cartridge a lot!

Welcome to my new blog

Welcome. I hope to share some simple creations using the Cricut, the Gypsy, the Cuttlebug, digital stamps, Copic markers and the like! This 5x7 card was made using the Pagoda cartridge on the Cricut. The dragon is cut at 2.75 in., the Daughter tag at 3.25 in. and the tag insert at 3 in. Sorry the picture isn't that great. I'm a newbie to blog creation and it shows!