NSD Recipe Challenge - Cricut Circle

The challenge: 3 cricut cuts, 3 patterened papers, butterfly bird or bug, stitching (pen, hand, etc.), color yellow.

The Prize: a NEW cricut cart - Tags, bags, boxes & more 2, cricut gel pens, cricut scoring pens & housing

The 3 cricut cuts - I love using left over cuts. For example, the circle is the center of a frame I cut out from Wild Cards cart, the birds are cut from the Sophie cart from a card that cut out the shapes of the birds at the bottom of a card. I print and cut the happy birthday from the Lori's Garden cart. All the elements are raised on Zots 3D glue dots.

The 3 patterned papers: are from 3 different Martha Stewart mat pads and the pen stitiching was made with my zig brown pen. The yellow card is from DCWV.

I'm luck #37. Wish me luck!

La-Vie

Fancy Bird Card - Cricut Imagine

I love this DCWV cardstock and had to use it for this card. The bird was print and cut from Cricut Imagine Lori's Garden. When my ink was low, I printed a bunch of images from this cart to keep for layering later. I printed the bird with a fresh ink cartridge and then raised it on foam tape. The lighter washed out looking print is beneath.

Satin ribbon really gives the card the pop I was looking for. I wish I had more views of the card but this is it....

Until tomorrow...
La-Vie

Pink Flower card - Cricut imagine

I once got a tip from Tammy Skinner to use up all the Cricut Imagine ink by printing until it runs out and using the lighter cuts for layering or for pastel colored projects. It was the best tip I've gotten in a long time.

The beautiful flower is from the Lori's Garden Cricut Imagine cart. The card base and blue layer are Bazzill. The dry embossing was done with the Cuttlebug and the Cuttlebug Morrocan Screen embossing folder. The corners were rounded with the Creative Memories corner rounder.

If you look closely, you can see that the bottom layer of this flower is much lighter. Foam tape gives it height. I love the glitter ribbon from Micheal's but you cannot tie it the same way. Glitter will be everywhere. So I think it works best as an accent rather than a bow. Because the card is dark, I included the blue panel for writing a message on the inside.


La-Vie

Floral card - Cricut Imagine

Using Core'dinations cardstock and Lori's Garden Cricut Imagine cart, I created this simple yet stunning greeting card that can be used for any occasion. The Core'dinations cardstock is teal on one side and brown on the other. If you distress the brown side, the teal will show through for a cool effect.

Instead, I decided to use piece of the teal side to dry emboss using my Cuttlebug and the Cuttlebug script embossing folder to create a coordinating layer. Finishing off the look is a floral stem print and cut with the Cricut Imagine from the Lori's Garden cart. I got the ribbon at Micheal's and it's my fav of the moment. Everything is adhered with my general purpose adhesive in my pink ATG gun.

La-Vie

Happy Birthday - Cricut Imagine

An even quicker option for creating a special card on the fly is to use the Cricut Imagine. I started out with a pre-cut card by DCWV. I rounded the corners with my Creative Memories corner rounder (the BEST on the market in my opinion). Using one sheet of white cardstock and Lori's Garden Cricut Imagine cart, I printed and cut all the elements for the card. The scallop square on the front of the card, the happy birthday graphic and the 2 borders on the inside of the card (bracket and scallop). By adding tiny self-adhesive pearls and a message we're done in 15 mins flat!

La-Vie

Feb Cricut Circle Magazine Sketch Challenge

As a member of the elite Cricut Circle, I have access to the exclusive monthly Cricut Circle magazine. The online periodical serves up major inspiration and a challenge just for us! This month it's a sketch challenge. The sketch was designed by Susan Neal. The prize is $150 credit for Cricut.com. Since I promised myself to enter as many challenges with Cricut Circle as possible, I am throwing my hat in the ring!

The card I created - just 4 you - is made with scraps and left over elements. I love challenging myself to use scraps. The card base was cut from the Cricut Cartridge Sophie using double-sided dotted cardstock from my stash. The yellow dotted cardstock from my stash coordinated well with the flower Cricut Imagine cut from Lori's Garden. For a little shimmer, I spritz it with smooch spritz and outlined certain areas with smooch pearlized top coat. The bow, bling brad and the just 4 you stamp from Micheal's completes the look. Clear and Simple Stamps has a hybrid ink I love. I used it here in "Simply Blue Tiful."

A tip I picked up from Tammy Skinner at the Creative Imaginations blog was to use every last bit of your ink in the Imagine machine and use the lighter colored images you print and cut for layering and for pastel layouts. The flower I printed and made 3D with foam tape has a lighter colored image of the flower on the bottom. That's a secret that no one would ever know!

Makes me think of spring....

Wish me luck!

La-Vie

Repeat Impressions Sketch #F812

I'm entering the Repeat Impressions Sketch #F812 challenge to win a $25 Repeat Impressions Gift Certificate! I created a "just because" card using a Repeat Impressions stamp, and scraps including the card base, double-sided cardstock, Cricut Imagine circular image - Lori's Garden.

I stamped the sentiments on scrap cardstock and punched it out with this top note from Stampin' Up! Luckily it fit the stamped sentiment perfectly! The stamp is a large square stamp with flip flops with this sentiment in the bottom right hand corner. I used the tiny inkers to ink just the sentiment.

• blue bling - Me & My Big Ideas rhinestones "pastel"
• peach cardstock
• smooch spritz
• Stampin' Up punch
• Cricut Imagine circular image - Lori's Garden
• Cuttlebug and Swiss Dots embossing folder
• Repeat Impressions Stamp -
• Zots 3-D glue dots
• We R memory Keepers sweetheart inker - brown
• Memories Direct double sided ink daubers - black

Wish me luck!!

La-Vie

Cricut Circle Weekly Challenge #43: Feeling Gifty Challenge!

I'm headed out of town this weekend to celebrate a good friend as she enters motherhood. I created many things for her as gifts but this wreath was a first! This is a double-duty craft as it also is an entry for the Cricut circle weekly challenge feeling gifty. The project has to be made to give away and had to include 2 cricut cuts at least. I just finished making this and am rushing to get it posted.

First I started with 0-3 month onesies and a t-shirt. I stamped each with stamps from my stash and hyhbrid ink from Clear and Simple Stamps. The  Clear and Simple Stamps as well. I added the bling with my glitz 'n go tool by Kandi.

Cricut Imagine print/cuts - Nursery Tails "It's a girl", Flowers - Lori's Garden. All layers are raised with foam tape and sprayed with tsukineko sheer shimmer spritz.

I started with a dollar store trip for the wooden wreath 18" and wire ribbon, 3 packs of garland foliage. After wrapping the garland and tying it on the frame, I added the flowers with hot glue. Using curling ribbon for gifts I tied on the shirts which are bound with hair rubber bands. I love the results! Hope you and the mom-to be does too!

La-Vie

Challenge #2 - MPS Nat'l Scrapbook Day

National Scrapbook Day Challenge #2 - use Kraft cardstock to create a card or scrapbook page
http://www.mypinkstamper.com/2011/05/national-scrapbook-day-challenge-2.html

I love to use my scraps to make something new! Kraft cardstock was used to create the card base for this birthday card. However, the birthday message was cut previously from Cricut Imagine Cartridge Lori's Garden. I spritzed it with smooch spritz and added some bling for my stash. The frame also was an accent cut from Cricut Cartridge Wild Card. The ribbon from Celebrate It (which I love) is from Micheal's. I love to find new and interesting ways to use scraps. This card is one of the results. Please excuse me for not having any dimensions to report. But wish me luck in this contest!

La-Vie

Challenge #6 - MPS National Scrapbook Day

National Scrapbook Day Challenge #6 - use a tag in your project
http://www.mypinkstamper.com/2011/05/national-scrapbook-day-challenge-6.html

The card is created completely from scraps I saved. The tag is print and cut from Cricut Imagine Lori's Garden Cartridge using white Bazzill basics cardstock. The patterned paper and brad are from my stash along with the ribbon. The card base is Bazzill basics which I edged with decorative scissors.

La-Vie

Cricut Circle Weekly Challenge #23 - Guy Stuff

This week's challenge is all about the fellas! I don't usually craft with men in mind, so I struggled not to add all the frilly stuff to this project. In order to qualify for this challenge I had to add certain elements. In addition to 2 Cricut Image cuts I incorporated string, staples and a distressed edge.

I made this card for my husband. He is participating in the tough mudder race next month. He will run 10 miles with a team and encounter all kinds of obstacles along the way. He has lost 50 lbs and got super cut using Insanity and P90X workouts. Although he never did cardio before last year he has transformed himself into an althelte. To encourage him to "FLY" and win the race this card is for him.

Recipe

• Cricut Imagine - Lori's Garden (bird)
• Cricut Cartridge - Wild Card (flap from argyle card)
• cardstock, ribbon and letter stickers from my stash
• staples

The argyle part of the card was lightly distressed with an emory board. This was a scrap I had left over when I mistakenly grabbed my cutter instead of my scoring tool. I ruined an envelope I made but decided to keep this accent. And voila! It works well with this card months later.

Hope you like it...wish me luck!

La-Vie

Imagine week post 4 - flower power card

This card was inspired by a little oopsy I made with my Imagine. I wanted to print a lot of images for cards but I had not used my Imagine in a while. I cued it up and left the room. When I came back the images were so light and unusable and the blade was off a bit so the cut didnt match up perfectly. So I learned to clean the print heads and recalibrate the blade if I haven't used my machine in a while. The print/cut function worked well.

I decided to use the faded images to layer with well printed images to create dimension on my card. I used pop dots that were circular and cut them in half to fit in areas like the stem. I used 2 different flowers, embossing and ribbon. my favorite cardstock is bazzil premium. it's heavy weight and works well for cards. i used a piece for the layer. it held the embossing and punching quite nicely. my favorite punches are Martha Stewart punch around the page. I usually don't finish the inside of my cards but when its a dark card I like to have a light surface to write on.

Recipe

• Cricut Imagine Cartridge Lori's Garden
• Martha Stewart around the page punch - ribbon loop
• Cuttlebug embossing folder - floral screen
• bazzill premium cardstock
• ribbon from my stash
• pop dots

La-Vie

Imagine week post 3 - love you card

I created this card for someone I love. Maybe it's for you...

From Cricut Cartridge Lori's Garden I printed/cut the love you image at 3". Coordinations cardstock, Cricut cardstock and ribbon from my stash completes the look. To affix the ribbon, I used regular magic tape to tape each end down on the pink layer before affixing it to the blue layer. Most of my cards are blank inside. this one is blue inside. I am enjoying my exploration of Lori's Garden and making beautiful cards from left over scraps from previous projects.

La-Vie

Cricut Imagine week post 2 - bird card

I love this card! I am not sure what I will use it for yet, but it all started with scraps and this cute bird printed and cut from white cardstock in my Cricut Imagine machine. I love my Imagine because the detail and colors are so vivid and I have the opportunity to print a flat image like this bird or print all the elements of the bird so that I can layer it myself and create dimension within the design. so many options.... all up to my imagination.

Ok, so I decided to use my coordinations cardstock scraps, dry embossed it with my cuttlebug, used white ribbon from my stash and voila! Instant fabulosity! You may notice that the script is turned on its side. I wanted the piece of paper to be embossed edge to edge and it wouldn't fit the regular way. I like the effect. Do you?

Recipe:

• Cricut Imagine cartridge - Lori's garden
• Cuttlebug embossing folder - script
• white ribbon from my stash
• Bazzil basic white cardstock
• coordinations cardstock

La-Vie

Imagine Week - Thank you card

I promised to share the cards made from my Cricut Imagine and scraps. Here is the second card in the set. The reason I love my Imagine is because you start with white cardstock and your imagination can run wild! I printed the Thank you sentiment from the Lori's Garden cart at 3". I used coordinations cardstock that is brown one one side and green on the other. The great thing about coordinations cardstock is that you can create a coordinated look instantly, and if you distress the dark side the lighter color shows through. You can sand it, emboss it, etc. A glimpse of this is seen at the top fold of the card, there are little bits of green peeking out.

I also love my Provocraft Cuttlebug. It can cut as well but I use it most for dry embossing. The pattern on the green layer on the front of the card was run through the cuttlebug using the plum blossom folder. It adds great dimension to all projects. Finally, I got the ribbon from the $1 bin at Micheal's. Ribbon is my new obsession. I add it in whenever and wherever I can. It gives my projects a finishing touch I cannot deny.

La-Vie

p.s. If you are new to my blog, check out older posts using the archive on the right hand side of the blog. There are a year of posts to look through. All comments are adored, so please leave them as often as you can on past, present and future posts.

1st Creative Critterz Imaginations challenge

Greetings followers! And welcome to all my FB friends who have recently learned I am doing this and have subscribed! xoxox

I'm entering the first challenge on one of the blogs I follow faithfully Creative Critterz Imaginations. The blog is for crafts made with the Cricut Imagine machine (launched in Sept 2010). The Imagine was made in conjunction with HP so it prints and cuts images. It also prints full sheets of paper and has the ability to apply color patterns to images from the traditional Cricut cartridges. Basically, it's the bomb and I love it!

Just this week I had the urge to turn it on and play at bit. Luckily, something I have made is eligible for the contest. The rules are simple, make something with the Cricut Imagine. The prize is a cartridge for the Imagine called Blast Off. I really want this cart because I only have 5 Imagine cartridges and I would like to build up my library. Winners are chosen randomly so what do I have to lose? The odds are really great right now because only 14 other people have entered. However the contest closes in about 4 hours so who knows?

Scrapbooking is about making the most of scraps. So I decided to make cards from my scraps. I printed several images at 3" from the Cricut Imagine Cartridge Lori's Garden and had fun combining scraps of ribbon, patterned paper, Cuttlebug embossing folders etc. I am not sure what most of these cards will be used for, but I have categorized them in the "Just Because" file for now. I find it useful to have a stash of cards made for occassions that come up. That way I won't have to scurry to create items of the fly or have to spend big bucks at hallmark like I did for Vday.

Recipe:

• Cricut Imagine Cartridge - Lori's Garden
• coordinations card stock
• patterned paper from my stash
• ribbon from my stash

Wish me luck! I'll share the rest of the cards I made with scraps and the Imagine all week. Stay tuned!

La-Vie

p.s. I love comments!!!