Cricut Cricut FANatics Crafty Challenge #4- Christmas/Winter Decorations

This month the Cricut FANatics crafty challenge is to create a Christmas or winter decoration for the home.  I thought this was the perfect challenge to recreate something I came across on Pinterest. 

I loved the look of this wall decor item created by Kim Wilson from Sand & Sisal.

Here is my Cricut version:

The letters were cut from Wall Decor & More at 11 1/2 inches.  Instead of an "O", I used the zero.  Each letter was cut from Cosmo Cricket paper, the "Be Good: Poinsettia" pattern and twice from chipboard for thickness.  After the paper and chipboard was sandwiched together, the edges were inked with VersaMagic "Jumbo Java".  The "N" "0" and "L" were taped together on the backside.  The "E" was placed on top of the other letters using foam tape to give it dimension.

I was very pleased with the results.

Cricut FANatics Sketch Challenge #2

Here is the October's Sketch Challenge on the Cricut FANatics blog from Amy of Amy's Digi Scraps.

The challenge is to create a card or layout using the above sketch and you must use your Cricut.

I have been working on my 2006 album forever!  I had a few more pages to do but lost my mojo on working on the album long ago.  This sketch helped me finish the album.  Thank you Amy!

This picture is of my husband's cousin, aunt and Mom.  Three beautiful women in my life.

The paper is from my stash, an old stack I took apart a long time ago.

The page is an 8 1/2 x 11 inch.  The borders are from Ribbons & Rosettes, using the RBBorder 2 feature and cut at 2".  "Beautiful" is from the Lovely Floral cart also cut at 2".

Halloween Memory Game

The little ones in my family have always loved playing memory card games so I created one using my Cricut.

 

 

I used 8 1/2 x 11 inch orange and black card stock.  Circles were cut at 2 1/2 inches so I could fit 12 circles per sheet.

 

From the black card stock, using the Pumpkin Carving cartridge, I cut two of every circle image on the cart.  There are 20 circle images.

 

From the orange card stock, using George and Basic Shapes cartridge, I cut 40 - 2 1/2 inch circles.

 

On the orange circle fronts, I stamped a pumpkin image.  You can see the front of the cards in the upper right and left of the photo.

 

I ran the black image cuts through my Xyron and adhered to the backs of the orange circles.

 

To play:

 

Turn all cards stamped image side up.  (I typically let the kids do this.)  Players take turns flipping over two cards.  If it is a match, they keep the set.  Play continues until all cards have been matched.  Player with the most sets wins.



Cricut FANatics Sketch Challenge #1

Here is the September Sketch Challenge on the Cricut FANatics blog from Amy of Amy's Digi Scraps.

The challenge is to create a card or layout using the above sketch and you must use your Cricut.

I was one of the fortunate Americans that got to see the Endeavour as it was ferried to its California destination.  This sketch was perfect for photos of the Endeavour as it flew over Sacramento.



The title was cut at 1" from the Hannah Montana cart using the Rock Star font.  The font does not have a shadow but more of a blackout feature that blacks out the star in the font.  To get a shadow effect I offset the letters slightly so the star was still covered but there was a little bit of color to the right of the letter.

I also used the stars that were cut from the letters as corner highlights for the picture and journaling. 

State Fair Layout

Some of the fun memories of summer include going to an amusement park, carnival or fair. Today I have a layout to share with you that I designed for the Cricut FANatics blog.

For this layout I used sheets of solid card stock and three different coordinating patterned papers. Cuts are from the Carousel cartridge as follows: Ferris Wheel (Ride5) 10.5 inches; Merry-go-round (Ride4) 5 inches; "State Fair" 3 inches cut in pattern paper and solid; and three Banners 3.5 inches. Photo mats are cut to fit the photos I selected for the layout.

Merry-go-round, banners and title are secured with dimensional tape to add some depth.

The title does not have a shadow cut so I cut the base cut from the solid to create the shadow and off set the pattern cut to make it stand out.



Check out the Carousel cartridge, it has a lot of great cuts for your amusement park, carnival, fair and even circus photos. Happy scrapping!

Cricut Circle June Monthly Challenge: A Gift for Baby

The challenge:  Create a gift for baby using Cricut products

I created an "Auntie Rita's version" nursery rhymn book for my newest nephew. I used an 8" scrapbook album. The grey background is 6" square. The cuts are from the Nusery Rhymn cart. The silhouettes and titles cut through Design Studio so that I could stretch the cuts to fit my needs.

Sorry, the pictures are not the best. I didn't have time to take pictures before I gave him the book so I had to take them at the hospital.

Cricut Circle January Monthly Challenge: The Year in Review

The Challenge: Create a scrapbook page or mini album reviewing the year 2011. What was memorable about the year overall? Or maybe you want to summarize the events that happened each month in your life. Whatever your approace, use your Cricut machines to tell your 2011 story.
Rules and Guidelines: Circle Blog Challenges are open to Cricut Circle Members only. Your project must be newly created for this challenge and include atleast 2 Cricut Image Cuts. You must submit a project to be entered into the Challenge Prize Drawing.

It's been a little while since I've been able to participate in a Circle challenge and what better way to jump back in than with this challenge.  The best way to describe 2011 is bitter sweet.  I finally got to see the Harlem Globe Trotters; we vacationed in Southern California; lost Kodiak our beloved furbaby, adopted Casey a few months later; spent a lot of time this year with family; we upgraded to an RV; Travis and Kara purchased their first home; I was diagnosed with breast cancer; we went to Hawaii; and Russ' parents celebrated their 50th anniversary.  I created this collage layout highlighting our year.

All cricut cuts were cut at 1 inch.  Cricut cartridges used:  Blackletter - 50th; Give a Hoot - Nest; Kate's ABC's - House; Mickey & Friends - Mickey ears; Paper Pups - Paw; Pink Journey - Ribbon; Winter Lace - Snowflake