Catching up

Ack! Has it really been 10 days since I last checked in here. *Blush* You can always tell I’m working a bunch if my poor blog gets ignored for a bit. *sheepish smile* On top of that, we decided to upgrade one of our home computers and that meant shuffling things around between my husband’s office computer and mine. Not always a fun process. But seriously, Kevin, my husband, made it as easy as could be. A huge THANK YOU to him for helping me get everything set up right. 🙂

So what have I been working on? . . .  Cricut opened their new FREE online design tool, Cricut Craft Room, last week. It has been in Beta testing since earlier this year and I’m so excited to tell you that it is now OPEN for everyone to use. And it is AWESOME!!! To find out more about it, be sure to visit THIS PAGE HERE. It comes with a Cricut Craft Room Exclusives digital cartridge called Cricut Craft Room Basics that you can start playing with right away. It includes lots of great shapes and a wonderful font! Below are a few projects I created with this cartridge.

Cricut Machines Used: Cricut Expression Electronic Cutting Machine, Cricut Craft Room (FREE Online Design Tool)
Cricut Cartridges Used: Cricut Craft Room Basics
Other Supplies: Cardstock (cream, gray), Patterned Paper/Decorative Brads/Dimensional Stickers/Label Stickers (My Mind’s Eye Stella & Rose Collection), Buttons (Basic Grey), Sewing machine & thread, Patterned scissors, Computer & printer, Distressing ink, Adhesives

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CUT INFORMATION:

• Cut stars and their shadows in various patterned papers. Cut three at 2.25″ and three at 2″.
• Cut letters and shadow letters for title at 1.25″ using navy patterned paper and cream cardstock.
• Cut journaling block artisan shape at 3″ using navy patterned paper. Layer journaling strips on top.

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JOY CHRISTMAS CARD

Cricut Machines Used: Cricut Expression Electronic Cutting Machine, Cricut Craft Room (FREE Online Design Tool), Cuttlebug Embossing & Die Cut Machine
Cricut Cartridges Used: Cricut Craft Room Basics
Other Supplies: Cuttlebug Cricut Companions Damask Decor Embossing Folders, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Cardstock (brown, cream), Patterned Paper (My Mind’s Eye), Buttons (Basic Grey), Twine (The Twinery), Sewing machine & thread, Needle & floss, Distressing ink, Adhesives

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CUT INFORMATION:

• Cut 4″ Scalloped Circle and shadow <SclpCrcl> using patterned paper, cream and dark brown cardstock. Cut two of the base image and tear the cream scalloped circle in half to look like a snowbank.
• Cut 3″ Tree and shadow <Tree> from green and brown cardstock. Add texture to tree by embossing it with the Cuttlebug Machine and the Swiss Dots embossing folder. Sew on buttons using a needle & cream embroidery floss. Adhere to scalloped circle with foam squares.
• Cut sentiment letters at 1″. Adhere to scalloped circle. Tie red/white baker’s twine around scalloped circle and tie in a bow.
• Create card base with brown cardstock. Cut a red cardstock background and emboss with the Damask Decor embossing folder. Stitch around edge with cream thread and sewing machine. Add two strips of patterned paper to card, tearing the bottom edge of the brown strip. Adhere scalloped circle with tree to card using foam squares.

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LOVE YOU CARD

Cricut Machines Used: Cricut Expression Electronic Cutting Machine, Cricut Craft Room (FREE Online Design Tool)
Cricut Cartridges Used: Cricut Craft Room Basics
Other Supplies: Cardstock (cream), Patterned Paper (My Mind’s Eye), String, Patterned scissors, Gems (My Mind’s Eye), Paper piercer, Adhesives

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CUT INFORMATION:

• Create card background with several different strips of patterned paper (this is great for using up those scraps). Add a few edges to the strips by adhering to cream cardstock and trimming along the edges with patterned scissors.
• Cut a 2.5″ <Heart> from red solid patterned paper and mat with a 2.75″ <SclpHrt> cut with cream cardstock. I used my paper piercer to add a pierced border around the red heart. Adhere to card with foam squares adding a string to the back to look as though the heart is hanging from the top of the card.
• Cut a 0.75″ and 1″ <Heart> from red solid patterned paper. Cut their shadows with cream cardstock. Adhere to card with string and foam squares.

Cut 0.75″ letters to spell out “Love You” sentiment on largest heart. Add gems.

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One thing I LOVE about the Cricut is that there are so many different ways to use your machine! First, you can use it with just your cartridges, which is great for people who don’t have a computer in their craft space, people who want to take it to crops, or people who don’t like using a computer or don’t like being tethered to a computer all the time. Second, you can design on the go with your Gypsy Design Device. I love to use mine while waiting to pick my kids up from school, waiting in the car while my husband runs errands, waiting in the doctor’s office, taking it on trips, etc. Then, when I’m back at home, I simply cut out my designs and GO! And now, you can also use it with your computer with the Cricut Craft Room! Great for people who like the design control that a mouse gives you, the larger screen (for those of us who can’t see very well *raising hand*) and for those of you who want to purchase smaller sets of designs to work with. It’s just AWESOME and so versatile! I love that there are so many options in designing with my machine. I use all THREE ways, depending on my mood, the project, or the circumstance. Love it!

Well, I definitely have more projects to share with you soon, so I hope you’ll check back when you get a minute later this week.

See you soon!

Jana