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

Cricut Circle August Monthly Challenge: Create a Scene

"There are so many fun Cricut cuts available on our cartridges including trees, buildings, backgrounds, flowers and more! For this next challenge, we want to see you utilize these cuts by creating a scene on your project.

The Challenge: Create a project of your choice utilizing your Cricut Cut Images to create a scene! (You are not required to use it, but your latest Circle Exclusive cartridge, Pop-Up Neighborhood, has tons of great images for building a scene!) Your project must include atleast 2 different Cricut Image Cuts.

Rules and Guidelines: Circle Blog Challenges are open to Cricut Circle Members only. You can create any type of project you would like (tag, altered project, mini album, etc.) but your project must be newly created for this challenge and include atleast 2 Cricut Image Cuts."

In 2006 at my sister's 40th birthday party, my then 2 year old niece performed her version of the hula.  I chose Life's a Beach to create a scene to scrap these adorable pictures.

Cricut cuts:  Palm trees - 10", Sun - 5", Hula girl - 5", Dolphin - 3", Turtle - 1 1/2", Crab - 1", Wave border - 1", Hibiscus border - 1"

Cuts were highlighted with chalks and SU watercolor pencils.

Here's a close-up of the hula girl.

Cricut Circle June Magazine Challenge

"TERESA COLLINS SPONSOR CONTEST!

Teresa Collins is one of our favorites in our little Circle! We have featured her paper collections and Imagine Cartridge all through this month’s issue. It’s only fitting to use her designs in our contest this month! We invite you to create a project, layout, card or gift item using any of her paper collections, Imagine cartridge or Blingage. We would like it to have a celebration theme. Maybe an elegant birthday, anniversary or wedding.

Contest Rules: Use at least 4 Cricut Cuts from any cartridge in your design and at least 3 Teresa Collins products like her paper collections, Imagine cartridge, Blingage, albums or any other product she produces in your design. Contest will open on June 18th. Please upload a working link or picture of your project to the blog under the Magazine Challenge tab. . Please, one entry per person. Entry deadline is Friday, July 15th. The winner of this contest will receive a Damask Décor Cartridge and Cuttlebug folder set!"

For my project I used paper and die cuts from Teresa Collin's Timeless collection and the Gentry's Glitter.  What beautiful paper!

My in-laws will be celebrating 50 years of marriage this coming November.  I created a layout to celebrate their 50th anniversary.  The upper photo mat is for a snapshot from their wedding day.  The bottom photo mat is for a snapshot we'll take at the party.



Cricut cartridges used:  Calligraphy Collection for phrase "Happy Anniversary" and "50"; Storybook for the flourishes.

Paper:  Teresa Collins Timeless Labels, TS2003; Timeless Time Clocks, TS2004; Timeless Die Cuts, TS2010.  Mats and Cricut cuts were cut from paper that I had in my stash.

I used the glitter on the "50" and absolutely loved the effect.  Added additional bling with brads from my stash.

Cricut Circle June Monthly Challenge

"JUNE MONTHLY CHALLENGE: On the Road Again Challenge!

For a lot of us summertime means ROAD TRIP! For this challenge, we want you to create something . . . ANYTHING for your car! It can be a travel game, travel activity, organizer, whatever! Let your imagination run wild.

The random winner of this challenge will receive a $150 Credit to Cricut.com!

The Challenge: Create a project of your choice that will help you or your kids on that long summer road trip. It can be a travel game, travel activity, organizer, snack holder, whatever! But your project must include atleast 2 different Cricut Image Cuts."

For this challenge I put together a little travel care package for my son, Travis and his lovely bride Kara.  They are finally getting to go on their honeymoon.  They will be driving to San Diego so I thought the AAA Tour book, some maps and snacks would be helpful. 

I bought a coupon organizer at the Dollar Tree to organize reservation info, maps, brochures and tickets.

I also made a few bookmarks so they can flag pages in the tour book.

Cricut cartridges used:  Pack Your Bags for the phrases and bookmark tops, Birthday Bash for "Treats" and Animal Kingdom for the bookmark.

Cricut Circle Blog Weekly Challenge #34: Father's Day Card Sketch

"The Challenge: Get a headstart on Father’s Day and create a greeting card using the sketch provided below. Have fun!

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 Imagine Cuts.



Here's my take on the sketch, I made a card for my sweet husband:

I used our latest Circle Exclusive cart, Pop-up Neighborhood along with Calligraphy Collection and Wild Card.  From Pop-up Neighborhood, I cut the sun/clouds using the Bakery accessory cut at 3", the airplane is cut at 2 1/2", the cloud paper background is the airplane <s> tag cut at 4". I used Calligraphy Collection for "Happy Father's Day" cut at 3" and Wild Card for "You're One of a Kind" cut at 2 1/4"

Clouds were embossed using my Cuttlebug and the Divine Swirls folder then edges were inked.  All cuts were traced using Sakura gelly roll pens.

Cricut Circle May Monthly Challenge: Tic Tac Toe Challenge

"Tic Tac Toe . . . Three X’s in a Row! That’s the goal in this challenge. Look at the tic tac toe board below and choose three squares in a row. Use the challenge prompts from all three squares to create your project!  Project must include at least 2 different Cricut Imagine Cuts."

I created a two page layout using the Sun Shape, Ric Rac, and Flower Shape.



A couple close ups:



Cartridges:  Walk In My Garden, using Real Size  Snflwr cut at 14", Btnflr cut at 7", at regular size Bee1 cut at 2" and Ldybg at 1"; Create A Critter Bttrfly1 cut at 2 1/2" and Bttrfly2 cut at 2"; Plantin Schoolbook Leaf cut at 2"; Kate's ABCs 4" scallopped square and using Design Studio welded two 4" scallopped squares together to create the rectangle.

All papers were from my paper stash.  Edges of cuts were inked in corresponding colors then cuts were hand stitched.

What a fun challenge and I enjoyed making this layout.  It was a labor of love, I will be donating it to Crops of Luv at our Circle Meet-up on June 3rd.

My First Blog Award - Versatile Blogger Award

Mary aka Scrapbooking Grandma gave me my first blog award!   I am very honored Mary, thank you!
Please stop by Mary's blog, she is a very talented lady.

In Accepting this Award I have to share 7 things about myself and pass this award on to 15 blogs.

1. I collect cookbooks

2. I don't like to cook

3. I'm obsessed with paper, can't have too much

4. I love to camp

5. I'm a HUGE Disney fan

6. At 46 I still get excited about going to Disneyland

7. I am very blessed

I'd like to pass this award on to the following blogs as they are an inspiration to me.

 

Monique Griffith Designs - Monique is truly an inspiration in every sense of the word.

Houses Built of Cards

Okieladybug's Scrap N' More

Styles by Stefani

Goody Bag Diva

ScrappyRN

Mandy's Scrap

Cool Beans by LB

Scrap-Obsessed

Doxie Mel Designs

Scraps In My Life

With Glittering Eyes

Not Housework

Craft Place

Around the Block with Scrapalette