It'sTime for the July 100 Cartridge Blog Hop!

Welcome to Erica's Craft Room

100 Cricut Cartridge Blog Hop Day ONE

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

If you did start there, you should have arrived HERE from 
Kathy S http://3spoileddogs.blogspot.com/

Welcome to My Cricut Craft Room's one year "BLOG-iversary" of our first 100 cartridge Blog hop!

A year ago the blog was kicked off with the first design team members and daily postings. It took 2 months to get ready for this hop last year. Now we bring it to you the first full weekend of every month.

Collectively the design team uses over 100 different Cricut Cartridges in their projects during the two days of this hop. Sunday the new members of the design team will be announced and some have even made a project to share with you!! What an exciting weekend!!

As special treat enjoy 10% off of your total purchase with Erica's Craft Room Store.

Use the code JULY to see 10% off of your total purchase (No exclusions)

on July 7 & 8. Also on Sunday there will be an exciting announcement!!!

For today's Hop, I chose to use the following three cartridges:

Stand and Salute,

Independence Day

and

Spring and Summer Tablescapes

Since the 4th of July holiday just passed, I would like to show you my first project that I made using both the Stand and Salute and the Independence Day cartridges.

I have a friend who is a World War 2 Vet and LOVES everything patriotic.

He loves to decorate his home using Patriotic touches. Every year I give him a gift, usually homemade, with the patriotic colors of red, white and blue or something that symbolizes Americana. 

This year, I used the Stand and Salute and Independence Day cartridges, along with a foam wreath form and two sparkly red, silver and blue garlands (garlands purchased at Michael's Crafts)  to make a wreath for his front door.  

He lives in an apartment with an interior hallway, so thankfully I do not have to worry about this being out in 

the weather. It would not do well in rain or high winds!

To begin, I took my foam wreath form and simply wrapped the garland around the wreath, keeping it tight and pretty close together so none of the white wreath base could show through.

Should you be a household that is lucky enough to have an adorable cat in residence,

may I suggest doing this when that said cat is not awake.

My sweet boy Copper was very interested in the pretty sparkly tinsel type garland.

I moved from place to place in the house to attempt to work on this and "loose" him.

He found me every time!

Look at this face!  "Did I do something to bother you, Mom?"

Using the Independence Day cartridge, I cut I <Heart>

the USA at three inches.

Knowing I wanted a base for it to rest on, I selected one of my favorite

cartridges, Art Philosophy, and cut two scalloped bases for it to

rest on, one a bit larger than the other. 

I then used the Cuttlebug to emboss the base layer and used foam dots to 

give some lift and dimension to the words. 

 

With the Plantin Schoolbook cartridge, I cut an extra heart and embossed it as well to 

just add some more color and emphasis to the heart.

With the Stand and Salute Cartridge, I cut the words

God Bless America. In similar fashion to the method I used for the "I love the USA" word art,

I layed two scalloped bases from Art Philosophy.

Again, I added dimension with foam dots and embossing the base for that little something exrtra.

Copper again assists me as I attach the Word Art to the wreath!

  

Most importantly, here is the recipient of the gift and a proud 

American!

 Chuck with Teresa

Finally, for my 2nd project - I am featuring 

Spring and Summer Tablescapes.

I must admit, I was excited to get this cartridge - but very frustrated with the booklet that

came with it.  It is little more than a pamphlet, in my opinion.  Yes, there are some instructions (all in photos, no words) that show you how to assemble a few of the cuts.  But I felt it left a lot to be desired and I am HOPING that Provo Craft will not start replacing regular cartridge booklets with something similar to these

just to save a bit of money!
Ok...my whining and complaining is finished!  On with the projects!

In August, I am very much looking forward to the visit of a friend that I have not seen

for a number of years.  We were very good friends in high school, but as life goes on, we lost touch. Facebook helped us find each other once again!

I am planning a party to celebrate her visit and got the idea of having a "Pink Flamingo" party.  Pink flamingos do not have any correlation to our friendship or to my friend ..I just like Pink Flamingos and the color PINK  so I thought it would make a festive atmosphere for welcoming her!

I am  just starting to make the decorations and the party supplies for this party, and used Spring and Summer Tablescapes to create napkin rings!

I started by cutting the napkin ring shape on page 14 of that "booklet".  I cut it at 3 1/2 inches. 

Silly me -  I forgot to take a photo of how the napkin ring looked just cut out without my embellishing.

It has been a very busy, hectic week for me!  

Here are the napkin rings, laying out flat, with my cute pink flamingos already added.

 Here is one of my flamingos, attached with pop dots. I used Life Is A Beach to cut my flamingos. The cute flamingo can be found on page 14 of the booklet. I cut them at 3 inches.  I used a Glaze pen to make the eye and decorate the feet and added Stickles (Pink) to the backs/wing area of each Flamingo. I used the Gypsy to Flip half of my flamingos so they would face each other when the napkin ring was closed around a napkin.

Here they are. laid out and ready to roll around the napkins!

The base image of the napkin ring will cut out a with a slit to make closing the napkin ring a snap!

Now, see how my cute little pink flamingos face each other!!

 This is how it looks from the side...you can see how it will easily wrap around the napkin and close to hold.

Once the napkin is rolled and inserted, it will look like this!

TA - DA!!

How cute is that?  Now, I only have maybe 25 more to do!!???

I think I will also insert silverware and then place these all in a basket 

(lined with a pink napkin, of course!) and decorated with a flamingo when it's time for the party!
I will be sure to post some party photos when this happens....it will not be until mid August!

Please take a minute to leave a comment letting me know what you think about my Patriotic project as well as my Pink Flamingo Napkin ring!!

If you are in need of any crafting supplies or are looking for great pricing on Cricut Cartridges...please stop in at Erica's Store and enjoy an additonal 10% off this weekend!

You will now head on to my friend and fellow design team member, 

Kathy Jo http://skrappindiva.blogspot.com

to see what wonderful creations she has made!

If you get lost along the way here is the entire line up for today, Saturday July 7!

Start http://mycricutcraftroom.blogspot.com

Jenn Lorist http://www.jennspapercrafts.blogspot.com

Shelley http://shelley-scrapbookingforfun.blogspot.com

Kathy S http://3spoileddogs.blogspot.com/

Teresa http://www.createenjoyshare.blogspot.com

Kathy Jo http://skrappindiva.blogspot.com

Doris P http://mybugandmecreate.blogspot.com

Janet http://janetscreativeworld.blogspot.com

Jenny R http://myimagitivity.blogspot.com

Bunnyfreak http://digipage-blog.everything-digital-scrapbooking.com

Erica's Project http://ericasprojects.blogspot.com

Lisa Ch. http://lisacustomscrapbooking.blogspot.com

Ashley http://especiallymade.blogspot.com

Ava http://scrapbookdesign4u.blogspot.com

Sarah http://craftingwithsarah.blogspot.com

Mary http://Mary-fortheloveofart.blogspot.com

pattie http://www.sweetpsscrapbooks.blogspot.com

marji http://www.fstampaholic.blogspot.com

samantha http://www.samanthascricutcreations.blogspot.com

Blog Candy http://ericasblogcandy.blogspot.com

. HAPPY HOPPING! 

Please leave your comments!