Exploring Cricut & More Wonderful Wednesday

 Welcome to Exploring Cricut & More Wonderful Wednesday! Here is a real fast, simple card to make for any occasion that you give money to someone!

I made a pink piggy bank for the girls, and blue for the boys. The pig is from Wild Card, and I cut this at 4" with Real Dial Size-very important step! This was cut with the Creative Feature Frames. The pink pig I embossed with Tim Holtz Damask, and the blue pig was embossed with Diamond Plate by Cuttlebug.

This would be great for a graduate, and do the pig and card in school colors. How about a green or red pig for Christmas? Have fun with it!

And no, I'm not rich. The money is my savings towards taxes!

FCCB Sketch Challenge #206

 Happy Monday and welcome to another Monday challenge!

Challenge #206 Sketch Challenge

This Weeks Sponsor

Winner will receive 3 Digital Images.

~Design Team Inspiration~

~This Weeks Challenge~

Sketch Challenge

Create a project inspired by the following sketch:

Sketch is from Card Positioning Systems

To qualify for the prize, be sure to use at least 1 Cricut cut on your project and if it's not obvious, let us know what cartridge you used.

This was a fun sketch! Here is my card:

 

 Here is a list of ingredients:

1. Background papers are from DCWV Black Currant stack. Black circle paper was cut using Artiste cartridge (button 40) @ 1 1/2".
2. Using CoOrdinations Brights cardstock, cut three different flowers out of three different patterned teals using button 24, cut @ 2", 2 1/2", and 3". After assembling flowers, put light teal colored rhinestones from Michaels (Thank you DT sister Emily!) in center.
3. Cut sentiment using button 40, cut @ 2", out of light teal cardstock.
4. The frame is from Art Philosophy, altered in CCR from page 55 to fit around sentiment.

  Join us for a great sketch challenge-flip it, turn it, try it!

 

Exploring Cricut Easter Challenge

Thanks for joining me today! Have you ever screwed up a posting for way, way off in the future? Yep, me too! Sorry this is late!

 This week at Exploring Cricut & More, we are having an Easter Challenge! The rules of this challenge is to create a card, layout or paper craft for Easter and include at least one frame and one embellishment (button, brad, jewel etc).
 Here is my project-

I used The Cricut Craft Room to create this card, using Theresa Collins Easter Basket.

1. To make the card base, I used the egg shapes connected with a small rectangle, and hid all the cuts. I used a solid yellow cardstock (unknown manuf.).
2. The front frame was the 5th image in this collection. I wrote down the measurements of my egg base and made the image the same size. This is an old Creative Memories paper I used. I decided to use the negative cuts on the inside of the card.
3. Sentiment stamp is from "Happy Days" from CardzTV, ribbon is Offray 1/8" lavender, and the pearl is from Michaels dollar bin.

Happy Easter!

Exploring Cricut & More Wonderful Wednesday

Welcome to Wonderful Wednesday at Exploring Cricut & More. In my ongoing tray of the month project, this is what I chose for April's design:

I am a big animal lover, and the ASPCA and Dogs for the Deaf are just some of the animal based organizations I support.

The tray is one I found at Crafter's Warehouse, one of our local craft stores. It has a removable back so that you can change your decorations if you wish, and glass insert to protect what you display.

The background paper is by Debbie Mumm. The critters were all cut at 4" from the Cricut cartridge Pet Shop. The sentiment is computer generated and cut out with Spellbinders Labels Nine. I used American Crafts Ivory Damask cardstock for each critter, and except for the guinea pig, I rubbed a light coat of Colorbox Sky Gray ink over the bodies to tone down the ivory a bit. After adhering everything to the background I slipped the finished product into the tray.

Check out the Pet Shop cartridge-it's full of wonderful animals!

FCCB Challenge #204

 Happy Monday and welcome to another Monday challenge!

Challenge #204 Sketch Challenge

This Weeks Sponsor

Stamp set of Winner's Choice

~Design Team Inspiration~

~This Weeks Challenge~

Create a project inspired by the sketch below:

To qualify for the prize, be sure to use at least 1 Cricut cut on your project and if it's not obvious, let us know what cartridge you used.

Here is my card:

I used the Country Life cartridge for the wildflowers (button 46) cut @ 3". The wildflowers were cut using Creative Memories solid papers and highlighted with white ink. The solid lime green background paper is embossed with Cuttlebug Plum Blossoms, and the green patterned paper is from Adorn It (Doodly Doo Dots). The lime green ribbon was from the Dollar Store. The sentiment is from American Crafts "Dear Lizzy" Spring stamp set.

I wanted something nice & bright for Spring!

Thanks for looking, and remember, the 100th follower to my blog will get a great prize package!

Exploring Cricut Designers Choice

This week at Exploring Cricut, the challenge is to use one patterned paper,

Here is the list of materials I used:

1. Background paper is by Creative Imagination-Gymnastics (This is very old, just a warning!)
2. Using Create a Friend cartridge, cut basket & basketball player.
3. Basketball net was cut at 5 1/2" using Coordinations slate, elephant, and white cardstock.
4. Basketball player was cut at 4 1/4" using Light Coral Vellum for flesh tones, black, white, royal blue, orange and yellow scrap cardstock, and Coordinations slate and elephant. 
5. Adhere cut images to background, insert into tray.

I just wanted something different that would be whimsical for March!

Wonderful Wednesday at Exploring Cricut & More!

Welcome to Wonderful Wednesday at Exploring Cricut & More! I just got the new Box It Up Cricut cartridge a week ago and got to sit down and play with it! Here's my very first box that will hold a birthday gift (lottery tickets) for a friend of mine-

The box was easy to make-this is box #29, and I cut it at the recommended 4" out of a heavy glitter paper (I always did like to make things hard on myself!). The paper cut beautifully, it is the fold lines you have to be careful of. Light score marks and careful manipulation of the paper didn't leave cracks along the folded edges.

Easy to put together, but trust me when I say that Cricut did not explain certain things! When you see a page like this,

 know that F1, F3 & F5 are score lines! I think you're supposed to score the box first, hit load last, then cut the box part. I just cut all my pieces and scored my lines myself-seemed easier!

There are 50 different boxes you can make with this cartridge, and I can't wait to make more!

FCCB #202-Use Green

 

 Happy Monday and welcome to another Monday challenge!

Challenge #202 Use the Color Green

This Weeks Sponsor

Be Wild and Free stamp set

To qualify for the prize, be sure to use at least 1 Cricut cut on your project and if it's not obvious, let us know what cartridge you used.

 I know that today is St. Patrick's day, but I wanted something soft for Spring!

Here's the list of ingredients:

1. Using the Artbooking cartridge, cut three butterflies at 2 3/4", 2", and 1 1/2". I used mint green, light orange, and pink scrap cardstock.
2. I felt the butterflies were too plain, so I stamped words on the filigree wings with Versamark ink, and then clear embossed.
3. White cardstock card, with NRN Designs butterfly paper mat.
4.  Stamped sentiment in lower right hand corner (Mark's Finest Papers, Flowers, Flowers Flowers)
5. Attach butterflies to card, add pink, green and orange rhinestones to butterfly's body.

Thanks for looking!

I'm entering this in the MFP Simple Salutations "Things with Wings" challenge.

Exploring Cricut St. Patricks Day & Shamrocks

Happy St. Patrick's day! The challenge at Exploring Cricut this week is to make a St. Patricks day project with a Shamrock, so here is my project-

Here is what I did-

1. Designer Calendar-cut March out at 2 1/2". Colorbok green glitter paper and Wausau dark green shimmer paper (also used on shamrocks and leprechauns).
2. Simply Charmed-cut Leprechauns at 2 1/2". Used scraps of light beige, pink, orange and yellow.
3. Give a Hoot-cut shamrocks at 3 1/2".
4. Unknown background paper, Creative Memories light green mats.
5. Adhere everything and insert into frame for calendar.

I'm so glad that I'm doing this-it's making me notice what's going on each month, and I'm taking advantage of the photo opportunities to document life!

I'm also entering this in the following challenges:
Decorate to Celebrate St. Patricks Challenge
Bitten by the Bug2 St. Patricks Challenge 

Exploring Cricut Wonderful Wednesday

Welcome to Wonderful Wednesday at Exploring Cricut! Today's project is from the cartridge Creative Cards, and I have always seen this card done is spring/summer time colors. I wondered what it would look like in earth tones, so here is my card:

1. Cut from Creative Cards at 5 3/4" for card base (brown cardstock). 
2. Cut mat, sentiment strip and butterflies from Wausau Shimmer Silver paper.
3. Cut wavy mat out of brown and silver patterned paper.
4. Cut pennant strip out of chocolate cardstock and emboss with Cuttlebug embossing folder Leaves (Cindy Loo compatible).
5. Stamp sentiment (Technique Tuesday Greenhouse Society). Brown Ink by Studio G.
6. i*rock silver accents on butterflies and corners of sentiment.

I hope you enjoyed a different color combo today! Remember, if you're my 100th follower you'll get a great grab bag of goodies!

FCCB Challenge #200-Pick a Holiday

 Happy Monday and welcome to another Monday challenge!

Challenge #200: Pick a Holiday

This Weeks Sponsor

$10.00 Gift Certificate

To qualify for the prize, be sure to use at least 1 Cricut cut on your project and if it's not obvious, let us know what cartridge you used.

The challenge this week at FCCB is to pick any Holiday (including Birthdays) and make a project. I saw these cool bags at Michaels the other day (two for $3) and picked up some to decorate. Here is a birthday bag for the man in my life-

Here is what I did:

1. Accent Essentials-out of mint green cardstock, cut two accent 48 pieces, one for tag and one for decorative base. Doodled edges of tag, stamped (To & From) on inside, hand wrote Happy Birthday on Front. Doodled edges of decorative base.
2. Nifty Fifties-cut truck (button 41) at 2" out of light blue, black, white, dark green and dark green speckled scrap cardstock. Assemble and adhere to base.
3. Artise-cut Birthday Boy sentiment (button38) at 1 1/2", adhere to base. Attach base to bag.
4. Attach tag to bag with 1/8" black Offray ribbon.

What guy wouldn't like a truck for his birthday!

Exploring Cricut's Tags, Bags, or Boxes Challenge

This week there are no cards allowed! Make a Tag, Bag, or Box with a ribbon accent for this week's challenge at Exploring Cricut, and here is my project-

Recently I went to Michaels and found some real cool plain-ish bags 2/$3. I also found black and white rhinestone flowers and black and white paper flowers. So here is the list of what I did-

1. Using Art Philosophy, I cut the square doily at 5 1/2 using the Font Layer, button 49. Antique Dot Stack paper from DCWV. Used the  5" Xyron Creative Station to adhere doily to bag.. 
2. Cut Birthday Girl from Artiste at 1 1/2", button 38 out of black cardstock. Adhere to doily.
3. Added black & white paper flowers and rhinestone flowers as shown.
4. Made tag from Lacy Labels cut at 3" using leftover paper from pink dots, black cardstock, and white cardstock. Tied the label onto the bag with 1/8" offray black ribbon.

This is the first time I've ever decorated a plain bag, but it won't be the last!

Wonderful Wednesday at Exploring Cricut

Hi-welcome to another Wonderful Wednesday! Today's project is my Scrapbooking Calendar Project for February-

 

And this is what it will look like in my scrapbook (sorry about the pictures, the colors are more correct in the above pic)-

Here's a list of what I did-

1. Creative Memories Valentine Romance paper.
2. Designer Calendar was used for the month, cut at 2 1/2" out of pale pink for the shadow and red glitter paper from Joann's.
3. Victorian Romance cartridge-Cupids out of pale pink and red coordinated CM paper. Cut at 2 1/4".
4. Love Struck cartridge-Candy hearts cut out of pale pink and red glitter paper at 3 1/2".
5. Mats are the pale pink and red coordinated CM paper.

Thanks for stopping by, and I love reading your comments!

FCCB Sketch Challenge

 Happy Monday and welcome to another Monday challenge!

Challenge #198 Sketch Challenge

Sketch is from Card Positioning Systems 

This Weeks Sponsor

Be Wild and Free Stamp Set

To qualify for the prize, be sure to use at least 1 Cricut cut on your project and if it's not obvious, let us know what cartridge you used.

Here is my project-

  Here's how this went together-

1. Made card by using the x pattern paper-unknown manufacturer.
2. Cut coordinating solid blue paper and embossed with Diamond Plate by Cuttlebug.
3. Using Accent Essentials, I cut a regular Accent 48 shape out of white cardstock at 2 3/4", then cut the shadow of Accent 48 using navy cardstock.
4. Stamped the truck image from Mark's Finest Papers (Big Boys Toys set) in center of white cardstock, then added stamped sentiment "Happy Birthday" from Mark's Finest Papers (All my Love mini set).
5. Added three red buttons in lower right hand corner.

This stamp set is so versatile for any masculine card occasion-check it out here.

Thanks for looking, and I always read each comment with love.

And the winner is...

The winner of my Love Challenge blog candy is...

DianeFebruary 10, 2014 at 6:58 PM

Lovely design paper. I never heard of Colorbok sso I must investigate their stuff! It's also amazing to see how many different hearts there are on the various cricut cartridges.

Contact me with your address and I'll send your package out!

Thanks to everyone who left comments!

Exploring Cricut Valentine Blog Hop

Welcome to Exploring Cricut's Valentine Blog Hop! 

The theme is Valentine's Day  so create a card, layout or paper craft for Valentine's Day and include at least one jewel. 

Here's the blog hop order in case you get lost!

Sharon

Donna 

Faith  

Rae Ann 

Emily 

Annette 

Michelle N You are here!

Jen  

Julie    

Michelle S 

Liz

Rosa

Diane 

 Here is my project for this week-

Here is what I used to put this card together-

1. Ivory cardstock base.
2. Colorbok Rosewood paper pack used for all paper.
3. Rose was cut at 2 1/2" using the Rock Princess cartridge. Used scrap dark red, red, and greens for this rose along with the paper pack.
4. Pink Rhinestone hearts-source unknown.
5. Sentiment stamp from Cardz TV "Happy Days" set. Red Studio G ink.                                                                                                     

Wanna win the following blog candy?

 There's a 6 x 6 paper pad called Think Spring by We R Memory Keepers, a cool Medallion stamp by Stampendous, and metal charm flowers by Momenta. Just leave a comment! I'll pick one lucky winner on Feb. 16th, so check back to see if you've won. If you are my 100th blog follower, I also have some goodies to send you!

 Thanks for stopping by, and your next stop is Jen!  Enjoy the blog hop!              
I'm also entering this in the following challenges:
Cut it Up Valentine Challenge 
My Sheri Crafts Valentine Challenge

Exploring Cricut Wonderful Wednesday

Welcome to Wonderful Wednesday! Here is my ongoing tray project with a Valentine twist-

1. The background paper is from Creative Memories.
2. The large heart was cut at 10" using the Edge to Edge cartridge out of red glitter cardstock (TPC, Joann's). 
3. The sentiment was cut at 2 1/2" out of a light blue cardstock using the Love Struck cartridge.

Very intricate heart, so I slowed the speed way down and it cut like a dream.

I'm entering this in the following challenge-
BBTB2 Heart Challenge

Thanks for looking!

FCCB Challenge #196-Seeing Red (or Pink!)

 Happy Monday and welcome to another Monday challenge!

Challenge #196 Seeing Red
Use red (pink or white)

This Weeks Sponsor

Winner will receive the Got Candy stamp set.

To qualify for the prize, be sure to use at least 1 Cricut cut on your project and if it's not obvious, let us know what cartridge you used. I hope that you will all visit FCCB and join in this week's challenge.

Here is my project:

 

This is a super easy card to make using the Damask Decor cartridge, using the Card Creative Feature.

1. Cut card base out of white cardstock-I cut mine at 4 1/2". I embossed just the heart portion with Anna Griffin Matelasse embossing folder by Cuttlebug.
2. Cut overlay out of pink cardstock. I used Damaskene embossing folder by Cuttlebug for more texture.
3. Offray 1/8" pink ribbon, tied into bow with clear beads knotted on the ends.

I hope you like it!

Fun Challenge at Exploring Cricut!

This week at Exploring Cricut the Challenge is "Cricut Choice"  Create a card, layout or paper craft using any cartridge you would like.  It must include the color blue, two Cricut cuts, and at least one patterned paper.  Here is my Project:

This card has a lot of features-so here we go with the list of what I did:

1. Cut white panel the size of the front of the card, emboss with Cuttlebug Plum Blossom embossing Folder.
2. Edge to Edge cartridge-use blue cardstock to cut lattice @ 9", cut to size of panel and saved the rest for another project.
3. Freshly Picked cartridge-I used a striped pattern paper, blue, light green, green, pink, and red cardstock to flower box. Studio G brown ink "dirtied" the blue box to tone it down a bit. Flower Box cut @ 2 1/2".
4. Art Philosophy cartridge-used AP chipboard element covered with blue paper cut @ 1 1/2". White & pink cardstock cut at 1 1/4" for sentiment & frame (I just love that the card can be used for so many things!). Added 1/8" white Offray ribbon.                                         

Please be sure to check out all the Design Team members blogs for more inspiration!                                                                                                                                         

Wonderful Wednesday Birthday card!

Welcome to another Wonderful Wednesday! Here is a card I made for my nieces husband's birthday-

Tray has a blue truck, so I had to make him a blue one too! Here's how it came together:

1. Cut truck from Just Because Cards cartridge @ 9" to compensate for the image size being part of a larger layout (don't use real dial size or Fit to Length because you'll never get the layers to fit-believe me, I tried!). I used asphalt photo paper for the shadow, black cardstock, white cardstock, and blue paper to make the truck. I used white chalk to try and give it dimension, but you can hardly see it in the picture. I popped up the fenders for dimension. You may have noticed that I cut the side rail racks off the truck also! Don't be afraid to alter a die cut to fit your needs!
2. Chalkboard Fonts was used for the letters cut at 1"out of red cardstock.
3. Background is Wausau Shimmer paper embossed with the Cuttlebug diamond plate embossing folder.

I really love making masculine birthday cards. I wish there was a cartridge with just muscle cars!

We Love Snowmen (& Snow Women!) at FCCB!

Challenge #194

 Happy Monday and welcome to another Monday challenge!

Challenge #194 Use a Snowman

Create a Project that uses a snowman!

This Weeks Sponsor

Winner will receive the Conversation Candies stamp set

To qualify for the prize, be sure to use at least 1 Cricut cut on your project and if it's not obvious, let us know what cartridge you used.

Be sure to visit the FCCB blog to view the other DT members' projects and to join in the challenge.

Here is my project for this week:

 

1. Background paper is Alpine Frost by SEI
2. Designer Calendar to cut January out of American Crafts Ivory Damask cardstock (cut @2 1/4").
3. Winter Woodland was used for the Snow people and Snowflakes. The snowman on the left was cut @ 9", using Ivory Damask, light teal, medium teal & black cardstock. The snow woman on the right was cut @ 7", using Ivory Damask, red & pink cardstock. Snowflakes were cut @ 2" using pink, light teal and Ivory Damask cardstock.
4. Medium brown photo mats (optional, but I'll probably add light pink and light teal mats to the brown.

Part of my ongoing Scrap Each Month project!

Exploring Cricut Challenge "Winter Wonderland"

At Exploring Cricut our Challenge is "Winter Wonderland". Make a project celebrating snow or Winter! Here is my project:

This is the January tray in my ongoing project. I just love the colors! Here are some of the particulars;

1. The red snowflake paper is by Imaginese.
2. Cardstock colors-white, light teal, red, chocolate brown.
3. Winter Woodland was used for the skater (cut at 4") and Snow Day sentiment (cut at 2 1/2").
4. Dude! cartridge was used for the snowboarder (4"), the snowmobiler (4"), and the skier (2 1/2").
5. I used an old Fiskars embossing plate for the ice in the pond.

I hope you enjoyed this project this month!

Wonderful Wednesday with Exploring Cricut

Hi! It's Wonderful Wednesday again, and here is a card I made to send to a friend of mine-

Here's the particulars-

1. Unknown paper sources.
2. Picturesque cartridge for the clock cut at 2 3/4" with the Flip button on. I decide to use the framework Creative Function to define the clock more and not fade into the bg paper.
3. Stamp by Ali Edwards, Technique Tuesday. Lucky Limeade Stampin' Up ink pad.

It seems the older you get, the faster time flies. We gotta take advantage of the time we have left and keep in touch with relatives and friends!

I hope you enjoyed this card!

FCCB Challenge #192-Use a sentiment

Happy Monday. It's time for another Fantabulous Cricut challenge.

Challenge #192 Use a Sentiment

This Weeks Sponsor

Scrappy Mom's Stamps

  Winner will select a stamp set of their choice.

~New Design Team Announcement~

I hope that everyone had a wonderful holiday and that Santa left you all some crafty love in your stockings! We are very excited to announce our new design team members.  To celebrate we are having a blog crawl, which is FCCB's version of a blog hop.

If you get  lost along the way, the lineup is listed below. Once you've done the crawl, make a project using a sentiment & enter at FCCB.

Amy HS The Stamping Tree

Emily Mollie's Blog 

Faith Scrapbooker PhD 

Heather Scrapping Runner Creations

Jackie Luv 2 Scrapp

Lynn My Cards N Stuff

Michelle Just a Nutter Papercrafter

Missy Quick Chick Designs 

Nikki Crafty Calamities 

Rebecca Crafting Misfit 

Elizabeth Unik by Yes

Cindy Creating with the Heart 

Pam Stamper at Heart 

Karla Creative Love Affair 

LB Cool Beans by LB

Jilliene Jilliene Designs

Joneita Create with Joneita

Kim Kim's Kreations

Pam O Reflections of my Art and Soul

Here is my project:

Here are the steps & measurements for this card-

1. From my Kitchen cartridge-the phone was cut at 3" out of scraps of dark brown, light yellow, and white cardstock scraps. I did cut off the phone cord and used brown & white bakers twine instead.
2. Beyond Birthday cartridge-the sentiment "hello friend" was cut at 1 1/2" out of light yellow, dark brown cardstock scraps. 
3. Adhere phone to card, draw lines out of earpiece, then adhere sentiment.

I hope you like it, and your next stop is Missy.