Sunday, February 27, 2011

Cricut Circle Monthly Challenge: Banners!

FEBRUARY MONTHLY CHALLENGE: BANNERS!
Banners are everywhere! We love their versatility and the way they can be customized for any occasion. For this challenge, we want you to create a banner with any theme you would like. You may use THIS POST as inspiration, or feel free to create something completely new. Project must be newly created for this challenge.




For this challenge I decided to create a welcome banner for our baby girl due at the end of March. I wanted it to be girly, shabby chic, and not too babyish so I could use it in her room once we get home from the hospital.

I used two carts for my cuts. I cut the banner pieces and one of it's layers at 5.4" from Sugar and Spice and the monograms from Simply Sweet at 2". The heart is a pre-cut paper doily and the pinwheels were made from 1.5" x 12" strips with the .25" cut off when edged with wave scissors. All the cuts were edged with craft ink in Ruby Red from SU. The cardstock is from SU (Ruby Red & Old Olive), PC (pink textured), and DCWV (patterned papers). The ribbon used is in Old Olive (SU), Pink Pirouette (SU) and white (AC). I also added large eyelets to the banner ribbon on each end to prevent damage and make it easier when hanging. I then tied accent ribbon to the these eyelets and each individual banner piece.

I can't wait for my little one to arrive!

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Cricut Circle Weekly Challenge # 21: Animal Magnetism

Weekly Challenge #21: Animal Magnetism Challenge!
This week we have been paying tribute to the critters in our lives and now we want you to do the same! For this challenge your project must include something related to an animal. You can create your project for or about an animal, include an animal cut, use animal print, etc. Project must also contain atleast 2 Cricut image cuts to qualify.





I am SO behind in my scrapbooking that for this challenge, I decided to work on some of my older photographs. These pics come from a road trip vacation we took in 2007. On our way to the Blue Ridge Mountains, we decided to make several roadside attraction stops (if your going to do it, then do it all the way...right?). We stopped at the "Big Cow", "World Globe", and "America's Smallest Church".
Supplies:
* Most of the cuts are from the cart Summer Vacation, but I did list the other carts that I took a cut or so from (Inspired Heart, Country Life & My World).
* Stampin Up Cardstock
* DCWV Travel Stack
* SU brads
* Red Stickles
* Diamond? cuttlebug folder
* Expresso SU marker
* White gelly pen

Monday, February 14, 2011

Cricut Circle Weekly Challenge #20: Love Notes

Weekly Challenge #20: Love Notes Challenge!
Valentine’s Day is just a few days away and we thought it would be fun to challenge you to put your scrappy skills to use by creating an extra special note for someone you adore. It can be a friend, your mom, a lover, your child, a neighbor . . . anyone! Your project must include a heart and embossing (we want to see you incorporate those Cuttlebug embossing folders). Project must also contain atleast 2 Cricut cuts to qualify.



This is the valentine I created for my hubby. The label, label frame and card hearts are cut from Fabulous Finds. The heart eyelet holders are cut from Tags, Bags, Boxes and More. I used the argyle and Queen of Hearts embossing folders to embellish the card along with some gold cord and black eyelets. The cardstock, designer paper and stamp are from SU.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Cricut Circle Magazine Monthly Challenge: My Sweet Valentine

MY SWEET VALENTINE CONTEST!
We want you to create a fun Valentine’s Day Project. It can be anything from classroom treats to a gift for your sprecial someone!

Please use at least four Cricut cuts and include something edible in the design (even if it’s just candy inside).




I created a mini valentine topiary for my favorite sweethearts! I started off with a 2 7/8 by 5 7/8 in styrophone cone. Using flowers from Straight from the Nest cart, I cut several sizes in 3 different colors. I then created 3 layers, wet them, crinkled them up, and let them dry. I connected the layers together with a brad (can't see from photos because they are covered byM&M's) and hot glued them to the cone starting with the larger flowers on the bottom. I adhered one Hershey's Kiss to the top and glued an M&M to the middle of each flower, alternating the colors. The base of the topiary is a cupcake holder covered with a cupcake holder/cover cut from Elmo's Party. I then covered the cupcake holder/cover with 3 heart doilies and pink glitter ribbon. The base of the topiary holds all the edible pieces - M&M's and Hershey Kisses. The final cuts included the phrase SMACK and the lips, both cut from Indie Art. I used stickles to add glitter to the phrase and Crystal Effects to the lips for dimension.

Not only do my sweethearts get a yummy treat, but a valentine decoration to remind them how much I love them.

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Cricut Circle Weekly Challenge #19: Whatevah!

Weekly Challenge #19: Whatevah! Challenge
“Whatevah!” is a phrase a lot of parents of teens hear around their house on daily basis. We thought we’d take that phrase to heart for this next challenge. What we’d like you to do is use WHATEVAH shape you would like, but be sure to repeat it three times on your project. Project must also include spray ink and must be newly created for this challenge.




For this challenge, I used the Imagine More Cards cart in conjunction with Forever Young and Ashlyn's Alphabet to create most of the design paper, cardstock and cuts. The exceptions include the flower which was cut from Straight From the Nest and the lace scallop border which was made from a SU punch. I sprayed the flower and the pink ribbon with Tattered Angels glimmer mist in Creme de Chocolat. I also used pink stickles to line the dress and highlight it's ribbon.

This was my first attempt to flood fill an original Cricut cart image with an Imagine Design. I love the way it works... so simple and you never have to run out of paper in the middle of a project again! I also created the brown cardstock by flood filling one of the emblems. The color printed perfectly. I am really looking forward to the future updates to the Imagine and it's possible capabilities. Have I mentioned how AWESOME it cuts?

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Cricut Circle Weekly Challenge #18: Back to the Basics

Weekly Challenge #18: Back to the Basics Challenge!
For this challenge we want you to go “Back to the Basics” . . . by using ONLY the cartridge(s) that came with your machine or Gypsy! You must use THREE cuts on your project (the complete title or words counts as one cut). We can’t wait to see what you come up with!



I have SO many pictures I need to scrapbook! These pictures are of my son a couple of days after he was born. I love them in black and white. Thank goodness for the Cricut Circle challenges! They keep me creating. Someday, I hope to catch up...

The cart I used was Gypsy Wanderings. I used it for all the cuts to include the blue square layer, the scalloped image, the phrases and the flourish. For embellishing, I sewed the edges (need to work on those rounded corners), used the SU tag punch on the photos, and fastened jewels to the center of each flourish.