Computer Issues....

Ugh! I really have a love /hate relationship with computers! I am trying a sample post via an IPad, to see if it will work. Found out that. Auto posts really are NOT working! Let's see if this post shows up!

Card Creating Tuesday - A Thank You Card

Hello my crafty friends! 

Today on My Cricut Craftroom, it is Card Creating Tuesday and we were asked to create a Thank You card.

I was happy to have that assignment because I am one who feels it is always important to send thank you notes when someone gives you a gift or goes out of their way to do something special or helpful for you.

I like to have a few on hand so when a card is needed, I don't have to wait until I have the chance to create one before I send a card out.

For this project, I used a cartridge that I have not designed with prior to this assignment.  Art Nouveau was my cartridge of choice and I am so glad I got it out to take a close look at all the unique and beautiful images it has on it.  I selected the tulips on page 30 of the handbook, and cut them at 4".  I wanted to give this card some dimension and something extra special, so I cut an extra petal on the tulip and bent it outward and inked the edges so it would pop off the card.   Adding foam squares behind those extra middle petals as well as behind the entire tulip really makes this card stand out.

From the Sweethearts Cartridge, I cut the sentiment "Thank You" (which can be found on page 66 of the handbook)  using my Gyspy to get the sizing to fit just the way I wanted it to on my card.  I mounted the "Thank You" on a rectangle of cardstock that I just free handed and then rounded and inked the edges.

I wanted this card to have another layer, so I cut a layer out of yellow, ran it through the Cuttlebug using the Swiss Dots Embossing folder (this is one of my favorites and can be found in Erica's store if you would like to have it as well:  Ericas' Store.

After embossing this card base, I then used a Stampin Up border punch to create the edges. I am sorry, I do not recall the name of this particular punch.

The cute little half moon shapes of this border allowed me to run a piece of green ribbon through it and gave the tulips something to rest on.

I mounted the entire card on a pink cardstock 5x7 inch base card.  I am so pleased with how this card came out and hope you like it as well!

I love to hear your comments!  Do you have Art Nouveau?  Don't you think it has some lovely cuts on it?

Thank you so much for stopping by.  Please head over to My Cricut Craftroom to see what other fun projects my fellow design team members have created. 
Erica is having a wonderful sale in her webstore as well - be sure to see how you can save 33%! 

The Letter Of the Day at My Cricut Craftroom

Hello My Crafty Friends!

It is again my turn to bring you a project that I designed for My Cricut Craftroom. I chose to make a project for the Letter Of The Day...and we are all the way up to the Letter P as we work our way through the alphabet.
I decided to use Pack Your Bags as my Cricut Cartridge (the requirement is that it start with the Letter P today.)
To challenge myself a little bit - I decided to try a style of card that I had never made before.
This card is called a Center Step Card. I was surprised how easy it was to make. I am very happy with the results of it.
I decided to make this card for a far away friend who has been a little down recently. I hope she enjoys it! (It's on it's way to you now, Lori Keir!! LOL )
Please click on any photo to enlarge for a better look!

From the Pack Your Bags cartridge, I cut the umbrella drink found on page 70 with all the layers needed to make the glass, the "beverage" inside the glass, the umbrella, the pole for the umbrella and the shadow of the entire image. I was surprised to see the umbrella canopy had several parts to it...which worked out great to make it multi - colored and fun!!
Pack Your Bags has some adorable images on it! It is available in Erica's Store for a great price!
I added texture to the "beverage" by running that layer through my Cuttlebug.
I needed something for the drink to rest on...so I cut a small oval from the Art Philosophy cartridge. While I had that cartridge in my Cricut Expression, I decided to cut a base for the card and then running that base through the Cuttlebug to emboss. I love the texture it gives to the card!
My next step was to give some support and color to the "side rails" of the card (for a lack of a better term!!).I simply measured and cut strips of yellow paper to center on those posts. Before attaching with adhesive, I ran it through the Cuttlebug.
I attached a slightly darker strip of blue cardstock across the bottom (again, measuring and just hand cutting a strip, then rounding the corners). After a bit of Doodle Twine (by Doodlebug Designs) I added this cute brad that looks just like a button!
For the interior of the card, again I cut a red base and ran it through the Cuttlebug, then layered it with another cut from the Art Philosophy cartridge. I typed my sentiment, "Let's Have Drinks With Umbrellas" on the computer and printed it off onto pale green cardstock.
These are shots to show you the various angles of the card how it folds.
Isn't this a fun card with the way it opens and has layers?
As always, I used a lot of foam squares where it seemed appropriate to give dimension to this layered card. I also inked all the edges of the pieces.

I hope you like my project for today! Please head on over to My Cricut Craftroom to see what some of the other Design Team members are sharing today.
I LOVE to read your comments ...won't you leave one for me?

The Letter of the Day at My Cricut Craftroom

Today at My Cricut Craftroom, one of the choices that we could pick as our assignment was making something that starts with the letter "O", or from a cartridge that starts with the letter "O". I recently purchased the Ole' cartridge and was excited to be able to use it for the first time!

Since you just MIGHT be able to tell from my blog that margaritas are one of my favorite drinks...I thought it was just too perfect that this cartridge has a margarita image on it!

I decided to make a card featuring this drink!(Please Click on any photo to enlarge)

Using the Ole' cartridge, I cut out the margarita glass, with all the layers, from page 42 of the cartridge handbook. I used my Cuttlebug with the Devine Swirl cartridge to emboss the "drink" portion of the cuts....hopefully making it appear to have a frozen drink swirling around in the glass! I then cut the "HOLA" from page 70 of the Ole' Cartridge handbook and mounted in on a scalloped oval which is the "shift" layer of the main image from that same page.
I then decided I wanted something to place the glass on instead of directly onto the card base, so I made a cut from Elegant Edges and embossed that with the Cuttlebug and the Swiss Dots folder.What is a margarita without some salt around the rim?? I added a layer of Frosted Lace and a layer of Crystal Stickles (purchased from Erica's store) on the rim of the glass.
I inked all the edges, although that doesn't really show up too well in the photos.

I then embossed the front of the card with another design and used foam dots on many of the pieces to give dimension to the card. I wrapped green ribbon around the Elegant Edges cut to give the card just that little extra "something!
Looks like it is ready to drink, don't you think?
I hope you enjoyed my project for today and Please go see what some of my other talented design team "sisters" have made for you today at My Cricut Craftroom.
I LOVE to read your comments....won't you please leave one??

I WON AN AWARD!! WOO HOO!!!

Look what I won! Thank you to my wonderful friend Sue Ann from Suzy's Crafts! . To be nominated by you for this award is extra special.

Sue Ann is a member of the Design Team on My Cricut Craftroom and I had the privilege of actually meeting her in person and spending a day talking, crafting, shopping and laughing! She is so much fun!

To pay it forward, I would like to nominate the following fellow crafters:

1. Tricia Colon at mycrazybubble.blogspot.com. She is such a talented and very busy crafty lady, yet always has time to chat and cheer others on!

2. Janet Royer at Janet's Creative World Janet is a member of the My Cricut Craftroom as well and I am always so pleased to see her latest projects.

She has a fun personality as well and I enjoy chatting with her!

3. Doris at My Bug and Me Create Another design team "sister" she is always so cheerful and supportive and quick to respond to questions and to offer a prayer!

4. Tiffany at Angel4ever-thecraftyteacher She is a so sweet and is an Early Childhood teacher as well as a talented crafter! How could we not "bond" since I too was a Pre K teacher and been known to craft a bit! LOL! She too is a Design Team member on My Cricut Craftroom!

5. Erica at My Cricut Craftroom. This lady is so busy it makes my head spin....but she has talent like no other, knows a bit about every possible craft there is and runs a successful business and several blogs, all while taking care of a precious little girl and her puppy dogs! She makes my head spin, but I am honored to be on her Design Team and to call her my friend!

Ok so there are my nominations, now for the part I have been dreading where I have to tell you seven facts about myself.

1. I have a son who is married to his wonderful wife Alyssa and they have given me 3 precious Grandchildren with another one on the way!

2. I have a darling daughter who is in college finishing up her 3rd year!

3. I love paper crafting and I am on my very first design team! This is helping me to

become a better crafter and push myself to try new techniques (and use up all the stash of supplies I have collected for years!!)
4. I have three cats....one in particular who loves to "help" me craft - which means

trying to get attention when I least need a cat laying all over my project!!
5. Margaritas are often my "drink of choice" (as you may tell from my blog) but I also love Caffine Free DIet Coke, Long Island Ice Tea and Amaretto Sours, along with regular unsweetened ice tea!
6. I enjoy baking and sharing my baked goods with others! (mainly so I don't eat the entire dessert myself!)
7. I love Spring and Summer weather! Anytime it is above 75 degrees I am smiling!

Many thanks to Sue Ann for thinking of me and passing on this award! I appreciate it very much!!

HAPPY EASTER!

I just wanted to wish all of you a very happy, beautiful Easter Day!

April's 100 Cartridge Blog Hop for My Cricut Craftroom

Hello and Happy Easter to you all!

Welcome to My Cricut Craft Room's

100 Cricut Cartridge Blog Hop

You should have started at http://mycricutcraftroom.blogspot.com/ if not please start at the beginning.

Be sure to visit Erica's Blog http://mycricutcraftroom.blogspot.com tomorrow for over 50 NEW projects that you did not see today....

Also make sure to follow Erica's blog so you will know when she has contests, prizes, challenges, swaps & special online coupons.

Currently she is running a Scrapbook & Card challenge over on her challenge blog and you can win a gift certificate to her webstore! http://ericascraftroomchallenges.blogspot.com/

Don't forget to comment along the way on all of the blogs today and tomorrow to be entered to win the Cricut cartridge that Erica is giving away today.

Winners will be announced on her blog on Tuesday!

It is hard to believe it is already the first weekend of the month and time for another Blog Hop with My Cricut Classroom!
For my projects this month, I chose to use the following Three Cartridges...

Cindy Lou, Paper Lace and Live Simply.

Knowing a lot of you will be very busy this weekend with Family activities, and knowing you have a lot of wonderful blogs to see in this Hop...I will try to keep it short!

For my first project, I decided to combine Cindy Lou along with Paper Lace.
I think it made a lovely card for my daughter, who loves these Russian Nesting Dolls!
I cut the Doll from the Cindy Lou Cartridge (page 59) using all the layers from that image.
I used foam dots for the various layers which really gave the card a lot of fun dimension.
I inked all edges of the card also, but not sure it shows up very well in the photos.
(Please Click On Any Photo to enlarge and get a better view.)

I then decided to layer the doll on the flower image from the Paper Lace Cartridge, on page 22, using both the Lace 2 Shadow and the Lace 2 feature keys.

For the floral design at the bottom of the card, I cut that also from the Paper Lace Cartridge... found on page 46. I cut the base Shadow at a width of 3.83" using my Gyspy to size it just right, then layered the main cut on top, cut at 3.7" wide. I accent the flower centers with Liquid pearls.
I added foam square between most of the layers to give a lot of added dimension to the card.


For my second project, I chose to use the Cricut Lite Cartridge called Live Simply.
I "simply" love the butterfly on this cartridge! I used all the layers and then ran the body through the Cuttlebug. I cut one extra set of wings so I could layer them on top of the first set, giving it more dimension after I pop dotted it!

I added a sunflower, also from the Live Simply Cartridge - using all the layers for it and then added a piece of Brown scrapbook paper and also used the Swiss Dot folder to give it a bit more presence.
Everything got a touch of ink on the edges and I used my White Uni-ball Signo gel pen to add a cute little face, dots on the antennae and on the body.

Here is the line up of all my fellow Design Team Members just in case you get lost along the way!

1.	mycricutcraftroom.blogspot.com	Start
2.	craftingandbeyond.blogspot.com	Susan
3.	janetscreativeworld.blogspot.com	Janet
4.	jennspapercrafts.blogspot.com	Jenn Lorist
5.	myimagitivity.blogspot.com	Jenny R
6.	tryin2craft.blogspot.com	Liz
7.	scrappininthewoods.blogspot.com	Tracy
8.	www.creativecraftcorner.com	Karey
9.	ericasprojects.blogspot.com	Erica's Projects
10.	danascraftycorner.blogspot.com	Dana
11.	ittybittyladybugs.blogspot.com	Tonya
12.	mary-fortheloveofart.blogspot.com	Mary
13.	2pawprints.blogspot.com	Sheila
14.	3spoileddogs.blogspot.com	Kathy S
15.	pixiperfectcreations.blogspot.com	Amber
16.	mincedpaper.blogspot.com	Laurie
17.	fstampaholic.blogspot.com	marji
18.	cema1cema.blogspot.com	Christina
19.	kimmyskards.blogspot.com	Kym
20.	scrapbookdesign4u.blogspot.com	Ava
21.	sabrinabellabeautiful.blogspot.com	Sabrina
22.	angel4ever-thecraftyteacher.blogspot.com	Tiffany
23.	createenjoyshare.blogspot.com	Teresa
24.	ericasblogcandy.blogspot.com	End

A very special thank you for today's Sponsor of our Blog Hop

In honor of her Birthday she launched her stamp line.....

Each day we have one set of stamps to give away. You can also purchase them in her store and enter to win the Silhoueete Cameo that she is giving away. She hasAction Wobbles, Royal Twine, and foam squares in her store.

http://www.thescrapbookingqueen-royalshoppe.blogspot.com/

Also Erica put a ton of items on sale in Erica's Craft Room. ALL Cricut $33 or less. Copic Markers 25% off and MORE

Remember...return to My Cricut Craftroom tomorrow for even

more wonderful projects from the rest of our talented team!!

Thank you SO MUCH for visiting! I love to read your comments!
Have a wonderful weekend!

A Spring Card for Would You Ever Guess Wednesday

Hello and Welcome To My Blog!

It is Would You Ever Guess Wednesday (WYEGW) at My Cricut Craftroom where my assignment was to use any cartridge as long as I did not use the MAIN CUT on the cartridge. This helps you take a look at the wide variety of cuts you can do from any given cartridge and how surprised you may be if you take the time to look at the booklets to see what the feature keys have to offer!

For my Spring Card, I used 3 different cartridges.

I started by cutting the beautiful butterfly from the Art Philosophy Cartridge. I found it on page 55 and I cut both the main image and then used the same key with the Shift button pushed.

This was cut at 2 1/2 inches.

I cut a leaf shape for the butterfly to rest on from the Sophie Cartridge.

For the "Who Would Ever Guess" portion of my project, I found this cute "Spring" corner accent on page 74 (corner button) from the Straight From the Nest Cartridge. I just got this cartridge from Erica's store (Please check out My Cricut Craftroom Store for amazing prices on all your crafting supplies!) and expected it to just have a variety of cute birds on it....so you will be surprised as I was to find other fun cuts!

I used my Cuttlebug and the Devine Swirl embossing folder for the background on the card base and also used a Sizzix folder to emboss the leaves.

I added some hand doodling to the body of the butterfly and took some fine gauge wire and twisted it into the antennae of the butterfly. I just taped it to the back of the body of the butterfly.

I inked the edges and used foam dots to give dimension to the card.

It is a bit difficult to see the purple wire antennae in the photo but it shows up much better in person.

Are you having Spring Weather in your area of the country? I am so ready for it to stay warm!

We have trees budding and flowers blooming . . . so I just hope we don't have any really cold weather sneak back in!

Please visit My Cricut Craftroom for other Would You Ever Guess Wednesday projects from my fellow design team members!

I LOVE to hear your comments!! Thanks for stopping by!