Victorian Romance Cricut Challenge

Summer is in full swing which brings lazy days, swimming and cleaning, ha ha
I have had a few days to play and look at the items I'm cutting out and asking myself how I can amp them up.
I took several of the hearts added some bling. The tiny white heart has glossy accents, the bright pink heart has crackle glaze, the light pink heart I added pink Martha Stewart glitter and on the big red and white heart is distress rock glitter. The giant pink swirly heart was just too pretty for me to add anything. My banner needed a little love, I originally cut it out in brown cardstock, and then I added Gunsmoke stickles. I love how it turned out. I also cut out the I Love you in a pale pink. The letters were completely washed out in the banner, so I sprayed it with Heidi Swapp color shine in Primrose. As a result the color and the sheen makes it stand out. Once I pick out or take the photo I'm going to add some more small hearts and maybe a few sequins.
My Cherubs, ugh. I swear the more I cut them out the worse they came out. I changed my blade on my Explore for the first time, since I got it in September of 2014, with this project. The cherub wings still did not cut clean but it wasn't so bad that they couldn't be used.
My next project took me a ridiculous amount of time and I learned several ways on how NOT to hang a mobile. All together I like how it came out.

I cut out 15 balloons in 5 colors and used 5 patterns. Each balloon is 3 sided. I took a coffee stirrer, cut it down and glued it in to run the fishing line through. I'm so glad I did this as I started out with too thick of line. I restrung the balloons and realized it looked empty.
I revisited the cartridge and decided to cut out the cupids. I spent hours moving the lines up and down trying to find a pleasing look. When I finally tied everything up and called it good I noticed that a couple of balloons are close in height. C'est la vie.
I have this hanging in my dining room and as I walked past it during the day I kept thinking, how can I jazz it up? I ended up hanging it from the pull cord to the ceiling fan in my craft room and gently added liquid pearls in Ballerina, Petal Pink, Flamingo, Ruby Red, White Opal. I'm still thinking about adding spray glitter to all the cherubs. I thought about embossing them, I just don't know how I want to jazz them up.

Chelsea is requesting that this goes into their room. Since I want it to last a little longer than a day, I think it's going to go back into my scrap room and I will add a small hook into the ceiling.
To make the mobile I used an 8 inch pink plastic embroidery hoop from Walmart.

What's next??
I've taken to letting the kids pull out the slips that decide my next few challenges. This gives me a little more time to think creatively, lol
My next challenge is using Sports Mania.
I know I will be doing a couple of scrapbook pages.
See you soon.
*Carrie*

Spring Holiday Cards Cricut personal challenge

This cart is perfect for all those spring holidays: Valentines, St. Patty's and Easter.
That being said, I tried to think outside the box a little. I opened up Design Space and made the cards all 3x5. I then attached either a colored index card or one sided pattern paper and turned them into note cards. I though this would make a cute teachers gift or tucked into a child's lunch box.
I made 3 of each pattern with the plan to make more in brighter colors. We will see if I actually do this, lol

When I created the box, I did a lot of guessing to get it the right size. My other box, snicker snicker, didn't work out. The sides didn't match up so I couldn't glue them together.
I can't stress this enough to NEVER use your best paper on your first try writing. I had my paper on the mat, lined up on Design Space to be squared up. When it began to write I realized that it wasn't centered. I took another piece of paper and realigned to get it as centered as possible. I'm very happy with the results.

I also made some card toppers to fit onto a 5x7 card base.
I must say I got a little bored with this cart because I wanted more of a variety of sayings. But for something quick and easy, and most of my friends would think is cute, this will do in a pinch.

Now these two cards look much cuter in person. I really struggled with trying to find a print background out of ALL my pattern paper. The rainbow card still needs some jazzing up. I'm still debating about outlining all the elements to make them stand out more.
As I look at this picture more, maybe adding a white pen to the you rock card would help.
Always learning, always growing in creativity.

I have a love/hate relationship with stickles. I love all the colors and the glitter. I hate how long they can take, when I don't speed it up with the heat gun, to dry, lol.
I did have one incident where my orange bottle of stickles got clogged. I was using a small needle to get it unclogged and when I squeezed and then squeezed harder, the bottle top actually popped off and I ended up with sparkly orange stickles on my hands and my shirt.
Thankfully I didn't lose too much and I was able to get the top back on. Also thankful for having baby wipes next to me.
So what is my next project??
Victorian Romance Cricut Cartridge

Martha Stewart Birthday Cake Art Cricut cart personal challenge

 I have been having way to much fun with this cartridge. When I first looked at what was offered I thought that what I was going to create was going to simple or basic.
Sometimes I think my brain freezes up creatively and once I let it thaw and then marinate, ideas just flow.
One such night, I was playing with my distress inks and a stencil and created this background. I shoved it off to the side and on another day I started cutting out all the different pieces to make all these different cards. When I got to cutting out the flower, I made a mistake in color and cut it out in oranges instead of pinks. Wondering what I could use this for, I saw in my piles this distress card base. The colors matched almost perfectly!! Now I just need to stamp or cut out a sentiment and the card is ready to go!!

Last Saturday, Kelly had a birthday party to go to and I had just finished this fun card and asked her if she wanted to use it.
Thankfully she thought it was just as cute as I did.
I used the happy birthday embossing folder to give the chevron paper some dimension and then added red bakers twine to the balloon dog. I think that balloon dog is pretty fun. I see this as a card elements that I can use over and over again.

There are some fun elements that were originally made to be put on cakes but I cut them out to see how it would work on a card.
My plan is always to use what I cut out but sometimes I end up just adding them to my small box of cuts to be "used" later
I adore this cut but didn't know how to utilize it. One night it came to me and this is the result. Elegant, fun, blingy.

A baby card was a given when I was looking over all the images on the cartridge.
This elephant is just too sweet. I pop dotted him and the balloon and added the Charles embossing folder. I dug through my massive stash of paper to find some boy pattern paper. I rounded the corners and... hello baby card!
Simple, fun and easy.
So now I'm coming down to my last card. Oh, how I struggled with this last card.
I cut out the butterfly and set it aside. Later I was playing around and decided to use glossy accents. This not only made it shiny but more flexible. Another great thing about glossy accents is that its an awesome adhesive. I used some pretty tiny gems and since everything is already covered in the glossy accents it all dries clear and strong.
I didn't know what I wanted to do with the butterfly or how I wanted to structure the background. I played with pattern paper,

and then I decided to try using green foil paper and my cuttlebug cut and emboss flower bramble . I will say that the foil paper was a bit too heavy to emboss great but it cut out very well.
I dug through my stash and came up with a few flowers to add.
I will say that its not my favorite card but I'm trying and experimenting.
I still have sitting on my desk two more cards that are for Christmas. I haven't had the time to run to the store and get another snow marker since I somehow have misplaced mine.
 The last thing I plan to create is a baby scrapbook page. Like I have said, I have all the elements cut out but have yet to put it together. My biggest issue is finding the time to go through photos for one that works.
School ends this coming week and I have to say that it has been so hard to work on these challenges while working during the day and all our extra activities in the evenings. I'm hoping that summer will offer me the chance to play some more.
Next cartridge up will be ... Spring Holiday Cards
I have noticed that this is a very simple basic cart. We shall see what I come up with. :)
*Carrie*

Lyrical letters and Simple cards cricut challenge

A couple of weeks ago I threw my back out and wasn't able to work let alone sit at my craft table to create. I was able to design on my tablet while lying in bed.  I planned my projects with  Lyrical Letters and decided to try and get ahead of the game and I picked my next challenge...

Simple cards.

Once I was better, I got to crafting and really enjoyed making some cards.

I spent hours playing in my craft room, trying new things, trying to decide on colors and pattern paper. I didn't want to go simple but it looked so good to me. I cut and played and although I'm not 100% happy with all my cards I'm learning.

So when I was taking pictures of the cards I didn't even think of separating them.

My first photo has the back three cards from Lyrical letters and the front two from Simple Cards. I guess I should have taken individuals. For the back three my card bases were 5x6.5 and the front two were 5x7's. They all cut so beautifully. The die cuts that say hello and thanks are from Hero Arts. Oh how I adore these sayings.

I plan on making more of both cards, they just seem very versatile. And with the XOX card, I can cover the letters with flowers, buttons, sequins, etc. My favorite from the second photo was the Get well soon card. I loved the negative when I peeled the card off the mat so much so that I tried to make another card with it. I bombed miserably and ruined two cards in the process.

I also did my first attempt at using the writing function. I'm still learning the ins and outs and hope to use it more in the future. Peace and Comfort are in writing, while the swirl was also in writing I was also able to cut it out of cardstock and cover the pen marks. 

The middle card was one that I really struggled with. The cut on the card is more of a southwest kind of look but then I cut it out with circle pattern paper. When I went to find some matching or coordinating cardstock I was ready to rip out my hair. I feel that I have an extensive cardstock supply but yowsers, so I settled on a dark green. The strip of cardstock on the front is Bo Bunny double dot in dark green with the happy in bright pink. I plan on using the stamp set that went with it and adding more.

Short and sweet, there you have it.

What cartridge is next?...gimme a second....

Martha Stewart Birthday cake art

Big smiles, off to design... see you soon

 *Carrie*

Best of Pixar cricut challenge

I was so surprised looking through the Best of Pixar cartridge to see this seascape elements. I have several friends that go on vacations to pretty places like this so I thought I could send this card the next time they're  heading off.
I will admit trying to cut the trees on the explore was tricky and ended up using my distress markers to get the colors back to what I was expecting. I ended up using texture paste for my cloud because I couldn't find my snow puffy pen. Still it was fun to use this cart in a way you wouldn't expect.
Now Mr. Incredible is a funny story, well funny to me.
A little back story for you. I usually design on my big computer in the living room, and that is where I do my printing. Then I take my tablet, open design space and go into my craft room to cut.
I had originally cut Mr. Incredible smaller and with the Incredible logo. After printing I set it aside and later changed my mind and deleted the logo and made Mr. Incredible bigger. A few days later, I took my original print and went to cut him out and when I opened my project in Design space, realized that my first print was now useless because I had changed the file. Back to the living room to print the new file and then I went right back to the craft room to cut.
Once I had gotten my Mr. cut out I went through a bunch of different backdrops trying to find the right fit. I finally gave up and made my own. I took a 4x6 project life grid card and then used my Dylusion sprays in London blue and Post box red. I dried it with my heat gun and called it good. Wyatt likes it, so I'm assuming another boy will like it for a birthday or get well card.
Of course there are other characters I could have used but when I originally cut Mr. Incredible I was going to use him on a Disney character page. When I found the picture I had planned on using, it wasn't as I had remembered it and wouldn't work for my page.

My next challenge will be...

*Carrie*

Cricut Cartridge Summer celebrations

The Summer Celebrations cart has tons to offer and I chose to use the 4th of July themed images.
I love night photography and taking pictures of lightning and fireworks is actually easy and fun. This last year we went to a parking garage at the U of A and could see fireworks from at least 3 directions. The best light show is probably from A mountain but the one from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base was no slouch either. The top left photo was from the base, everything else was from A mountain.

I used stickles to bring out some pop and sparkle to my cuts and added some pop dots for dimension.
Now, like most card makers I need plenty of birthday cards and I thought that this cake one would be sophisticated for either guy or girl. I put it into design space and planned the sizing around what I thought I needed. The cut was planned for about 8x11. My thinking being that I would score this in half and have an 4x5.5 card. THIS is how it came out and I just giggled. Way bigger than needed BUT still perfectly usable, as long as I don't need an evelope, lol
The Handy Man card next to it is a 4.25x5.5 a big difference. It's a learning experience for sure. When I was in Design space I used the card canvas for sizing and thought that the card looked way to small. I'm sure I will go looking for a cricut card cheater guide to help me in future sizing.
I believe I am now officially "caught" up on my challenges. I have picked my next cartridge and it's....

*Carrie*

Handy Man Cricut cartridge challenge complete

 

 This Handy Man challenge took way longer than I planned because I kept changing my mind over where to place everything.
I'm super happy with how the tools card came out. I based all the tools on the Stanley brand and used my cuttlebug with the diamond plate folder and silver foil paper. A perfect card for my very handy husband.

Now, I've mentioned before that I haven't scrapbooked in about 3 years. I really want to but I have consistently made excuses or have found other things to occupy my creative time. So, if I tend to have lots of scrapbook pages, I'm really trying to get life documented. I am by no means a pro scrapper, I would even classify myself as a baby scrapper. My goal is to become more comfortable with using die cuts and getting bolder as I go.
This page was something that I wanted documented because, my hope is for the bed to become a family heirloom.
My Cricut Explore did an amazing job cutting out the everything but the stripes for the drill. No matter though because I just drew them in.
Overall I'm happy with how everything came together and I hope this will encourage someone to try out this cart.
My next challenge is to use...

*Carrie*

B is for boy challenge complete!

  As soon as I picked this cartridge, I was off and

designing. I've waited all weekend and today I had some time to hang out in my craft room and put everything together. I still keep looking to see if I want to add any more details, perfectionism can suck.
I am usually a very clean and simple person when it comes to crafting but I'm really trying to look for ways to add those special touches.
As my first project for my Cricut cartridge challenge I'm very happy. I hope the recipients of these cards will be happy also.
Both cards are 4 x 5.5 and my Cricut Explore cut everything out beautifully. My expression would have never been able to cut as small and as cleanly.

These were so fun to design and I kept a small notebook next to me to make notes on little extras I could do. If you knew me well, you would know I'm a cut it out, glue it together, and put it on the paper kinda girl. I get nervous using patterned paper because of previous attempts with tearing and I forget to use my cuttlebug folders for dimension, because I'm freezing up creatively.
Hopefully all this will start to change as I use my creativity more.
Now, because I finished with this challenge so fast I'm going to start working on the next cartridge. Which is...
Handyman!!
I remember buying this cart because we always seem to be working on home improvements around our house. I know I will be making at least one scrapbook page, but we will see. First, I need to go dig out some old pictures to inspire me.
Wish me luck!

*Carrie*

My Personal Cricut Cartridge Challenge

 I now own 228 cricut cartridges. Wow. Not bragging at all, just overwhelmed and jazzed at the same time. There are soooo many cool images to use.
I've talked about it before, how I've wanted to use each of my carts at least once. Otherwise I've wasted money and I despise wasting money.
So I went through my list and compared it to what Cricut Design space says that I have synced to make sure everything was up to date.
I then enlarged my list, printed it out and cut it up. I drew a slip and we are starting to with...
B is for Boy.
Now I will work on stretching my creativity and use at least one image on this cart. I'm not going

limit myself, if I need to use another cart for an image I will, but the highlight will be B is for boy cart.
I'm leaning towards cards today in my planning because I've had a couple of acquaintances that have recently had baby boys.
But, if I can find a couple of photos of Wyatt, who knows, I may do a scrapbook page.
I'm giving myself a week to get this done, and if I get done early, I may start on another cartridge. I've also added a couple of free choices so if I want to do an svg project, I can.
228 carts, its going to take a while, but I'm really excited to see what this will do to stretch my creativity.
Joann's is having a 50% sale on Cricut stuff and I've stocked up on blades, vinyl, iron on vinyl. I think I have more than everything I need. Deep breath, let's do this.
*Carrie*