Plastic Bag Holder

Hi all!

I am sharing today, My entry into the Cricut Circle blog weekly contest. We were to show how we use our Cricuts to organize our house. The project needed two Image cuts.

I made a fabric sleeve to hold the plastic shopping bags. I have many canvas bags for shopping so I am surprised at how many of these plastic guys make it into our house.

Everything used in this project was either recycled or scraps leftover from other projects. I feel good about repurposing things instead of tossing them out.

Here is my sleeve:

The canvas was leftover after shortening some curtains for my Mother in Law. The letters were cut on scraps of fabric using the Pooh Marker Font. I used Heat and Bond to iron the letters onto the sleeve. The recycle arrows were cut from Give a Hoot.


Its hard to see, but the arrows are dark green and the letters are black with tiny white polka dots on them. I used a small piece of elastic on the bottom of the sleeve, and the wide ribbon at the top used for the handle came off of packaging for a blanket.

I am slowly working on getting my home more organized. I will definitely be using my Cricut in future organizational projects.

Thanks for visiting today!

Have a Great and Crafty Day!

Jan

My 2012 Goals Journal and light tent

Hi all! I hope everyone had a fantastic New Year Celebration.

I had a grand day crafting. It was so good to be spending some time doing what I love after the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.

I already posted my goals for 2012, and I decided to make this journal to record my progress as well as a place to make notes on projects throughout the year.

It is my entry into the Cricut Circle Weekly Challenge. The challenge is a project to reflect/record your resolutions. It needs to have two cricut cuts.

I started with a grid paper journal I picked up at the start of the school year for one dollar. The patterned paper is called the Daily Grind from Fancy Pants.

I cut the words explore, create and simplify from Home Decor in vinyl. The 2012 is stamped.

I added a few flower gems from my stash, and tied a bow and some charms to a binder clip.
The flowers were cut from Mother's Day Bouquet. I embossed them with some Cuttlebug folders, Script texture and Swiss Dots.

I made a pocket on the inside cover with a scrap of the paper from the front cover. I stamped the word "contents" on the first two pages, front and back and added a journal card with my 2012 goals written out.
I printed out these calendar pages I downloaded from Paper Crafts Connection Blog. You can get them here.

I stamped page numbers in all the corners using some older clear stamps I had. I love the font. I wish I could remember who made them.
I made the back pocket simply by folding the paper around the cover and adhering it to the inside only on the edges. Here is where I am storing the calendars until I put them in the book.

I am really looking forward to having a busy, crafty year, and I hope to reach all of my goals.

On a side note:

The lighting in our house is dreadful, and I was so tired of my pictures coming out so poorly, that I constructed a light tent from a design I saw on the internet.

It is simple and cheap! I used two sheets of 20x30 white foam core board. The first sheet I scored and bent in half. The other sheet I cut in half, then made cut out squares in the sides. I then taped them to the bent piece to form a box. The top half was constructed with some left over strips.

I covered the top three sides with some cheap cotton Muslin I picked up at Joanns for 2 dollars/yd.
Inside I taped a drape to the top edge. Here is a pic of the inside. I just use work lights that my hubby had on the outside.

Its not a professional piece, but it gets the job done good enough and it cost me about 6 bucks to make, unlike the $100 price tag that many light tents carry.

Well that's all for today.

I am encouraging everyone to go and make something today!

Have a Great and Crafty Day!

Jan

Hooray I Crafted! Cricut Circle Blog Weekly Challenge.

Hi All! I am so super excited to have finally crafted again. It has been quite a while since I have felt good enough to make anything, and I am so happy to be feeling better.

I haven't entered a challenge on the Cricut Circle Blog is a while. I am glad they offer these challenges, as it has helped me to get motivated again.

Here is the challenge:

Weekly Challenge #40: Glittery Card Sketch Challenge!

The Challenge: This week we want to see your interpretation of the following card sketch. Please include some kind of glitter or bling on your card.

Rules and Guidelines: Circle Blog Challenges are open to Cricut Circle Members only. Your project must be newly created for this challenge and include at least 2 Cricut Image Cuts. You must submit a project to be entered into the Challenge Prize Drawing. One entry per person, please.



Here is my Entry:




I used my new Close to my Heart: Art Philosophy Cartridge to make the two cuts needed for the challenge. I used the star on page 65 and the banner on page 68.

I also used the coordinating star stamp that came in the bundle. (What a FANTASTIC idea CTMH!)

The Cardstock is all Recollections brand from Michaels. The striped patterned paper is Basic Grey Gypsy.

I used a brand new embossing folder, called Tiny Stars from the Paper Studio, a Hobby Lobby Brand.

I cut the star three times in different colored cardstock. I then stamped tone on tone for the red and orange stars and the green star I used versamark Ink and glitter embossing powder. I added some tiny bling to the centers of the stars. I adhered the bottom star flush on the paper and then used one layer of foam tape for the orange star and two layers of foam tape for the green star.

I used Zing white embossing powder for the Best Wishes greeting on the banner cut. I then tied some red/white twine on the end. and added some pen stitching.

I had distressed all the edges on the card using my Stampin' Up distressing tool.

Here is the inside:



I just LOVE this cartridge and all the awesome coordinating stamps and things that Close to my Heart has. When I look through the catalog, I just want it all! If you are interested in some close to my heart products, my friend Missie is a consultant. Here is a link to her blog where she has some great CTMH deals going on.

Thanks for visiting!

Have a Great and Crafty Day!

Jan

Cricut Circle Pennant Contest - Illinois Pennant

Hi All! I am sharing today, my entry into the Cricut Circle Pennant Contest. The requirements for the contest are as follows:
a. Theme:

The pennant should be your representation of the state, providence or country of your choosing.

b. Pennant Size and Shape

The pennant shape is from the BIRTHDAY BASH CARTRIDGE. The ‘pennants’ that can be used are in the font section on pages 58-70. Please use a ‘fit to page’ for a 12×12 inch piece of paper.

Here is my pennant:
I chose to do a Route 66 theme. The cityscape was cut from Plantin Schoolbook. The Sears Tower and Illinois title were cut from Destinations. The Green Landscape, Corn, and Church were all cut from Pop-up Neighborhood. I hand cut the road.
The car and Route 66 sign were cut from Nifty Fifties. I cut the girl from Forever Young. I tied a single thread around her pony tail and used some embroidery floss as her scarf.
Here is a closeup of the corn. I cut two sets of corn then trimmed them down to fit in the space. I glued the bottom stems down, but pop-dotted the tops to give them some more dimension.

I used pop-dots on most layers to give the entire pennant more dimension.

It was quite a bit of work, but I am very happy with how it turned out. I hope Provo Craft enjoys it as well.

Have a Great and Crafty Day!

Jan

Father's Day Card- Cricut Blog Challenge

Hi all! Happy Father's Day! I hope all the Dad's out there are enjoying their special day.

Today I am sharing the Father's Day Card I made for my Hubby. I am also submitting it to the Cricut Circle Blog Challenge. It is a sketch challenge and we have to use at least 2 cricut cuts.

Here is the Sketch:


And Here is my card:
I used Paper from the Cosmo Cricket's Happy Camper line. I used the Hiker form Car Decals and cut him at about 3". I had cut papers to layer behind him. I inked my edges and used my Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher on my sentiment.

Here is a picture of the inside: I have really been wanting to make something from the new Circle Cartridge: Pop-Up Neighborhood. I loved the little camper pop-up.
I sized the camper pop-up at 3.62, which was the longest I could fit on a 12x12 sheet of paper. I then cut all the camper layers at that size.
I then cut a 12x6 sheet of cardstock for the card base. I also sized the background layers, which are listed as accessory in the pop-up manual, to fit on the 6x6 card. I used two different background layers to make my scene.

Here is a close-up of the pop-up layer. Originally this pop-up is to be a two-sided caper that pops up in the middle of the card. I didn't really care for that type, as I wanted to use the backgrounds too, so I trimmed off the "pop-up" layer and just used the more traditional tabs to make the pop-up. Also on the backgrounds, I used some small pop dots under some of the layer features to give the background more dimension.


I am pretty happy with how this card came out, even if I didn't make the pop-up in the way that it was designed. I will have to experiment more with this cartridge in the future.

Thanks for visiting today.

Have a Great and Crafty Day!

Jan

I Won the Monthly Challenge!

Oh my gosh I am so excited!!! I was one of the 5 lucky winners of the Cricut Circle Monthly Blog Challenge!

I won an Expression 2 Anniversary Edition!

I am so super excited!! I really wanted on of these machines, but I couldn't justify purchasing one, as I just bought a new Yellow Expression in January.

I am really looking forward to having the exclusive carts that come with the E2, as well as exploring all the new features of the E2 as well!

Thanks so much ProvoCraft, and the Cricut Circle Blog!

Here is a link to my Contest entry: You are Loved project.

Have a Great and Crafty Day!

Jan

My Money Bag - Cricut Circle Monthly Blog Challenge

Hi All! I am posting today to show my entry into the Cricut Circle Monthly Blog Challenge. Here are the requirements:

In honor of Earth Day (April 22nd) we would like you to recycle, reuse or repurpose 3 items on your project. For example, cut a shape from junk mail found in your trash can. Reuse something found in a junk drawer, or whatever! Use your creativity! Create a layout, card, altered project, etc. The choice is yours! This month entrants will be playing for their chance to win a Cricut Mini Cake Machine, Martha Stewart All Occasions Cake Art Cartridge, AND $50 worth of credit to Cricut.com.

Well I have been wanting to make a little box or something to hold all my loose change in. When it gets full, then I can cash it in for some more scrapping supplies..as if I needed more. LOL

Here is what I came up with:

I used Tags, Bags, Boxes and More and cut the purse as big as would fit on my cereal box. It ended up being 11.53 inches. I then cut the same out of DCWV Adhesive backed 12x24 paper. I will say that this paper is not very good for box making as it cracks on the edges where its folded. I had to really ink up all the edges to hide the white core.

And the backside:
The large top note shape I printed on my Imagine and used Seeing Spots Cuttlebug folder on it. There is a smaller one on the front too, but it is mostly hidden by the embellishments.

I cut the phrase from the Cricut Everyday cartridge. I cut it at 1.53" and I used vinyl as the letters are really thin and they kept tearing when I used cardstock. The vinyl cut much better, but was a little tricky to work with as it was pretty small.

I added a few mini ribbon roses that came from in the stash from my Mom! The love was printed off the Imagine too, from Imagine more cards.

These are the three things I recycled in order to make my bag: A cereal box, some play money we bought for my girls, and some packaging from K&Company.

I thought it would be fun to make a rosette out of the play money, since it is really large.

For the big rosette I cut the bill in half and then used my Martha Stewart Scoreboard to score at every half inch to make the rosette. It is easier to see the money face that way. On the smaller rosettes, I scores them at every 1/4 inch to get a tighter rosette. I also cut that bill into fourths. the centers were made using some plastic coins that came with a toy cash register. I used some alcohol inks on them to give a more realistic look.
For the roses: I used Sweet Treats and cut the shadow layer form the flower on page 50. I then used an technique that my Friend Janice from Craft place taught me. You can see all her beautiful creations here. I cut three layers all the same size for each flower I made. I made a 2", 2@ 1.4". and 2@ 1". Then I trimmed and rolled them into roses. There are many tutorials on this technique on Youtube. I sprayed each one with Glimmer Mist in Candy Apple Red. They all have a golden sparkle to the. I stuck pearls in a few of then centers.

I gathered some black satin ribbon on a thread to make a ribbon flower, and then added a stick pin I made from a corsage pin and a couple of beads. I also added a short strand of pearls and a bow made from Black Satin ribbon.
The tags were stamped using Inkadoo stamps onto the inside of the K&Company packaging. I then distress the edges with my distressing tool from Stampin' Up.

Other tidbits: I used Colorbox Chalk in Charcoal for the edges, and a magnetic disc closure from Basic Grey to keep the purse shut.

All in all, I am so happy with how this turned out.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Have a Great and Crafty Day!

Jan

Cricut Circle Blog Challenge- Kids Artwork Books

Cricut Circle Blog Weekly Challenge #27: Make a Game Plan.

Basically it is to draw and use a Sketch in a project. I have been wanting to try making my own covers for books using the YourStory Machine. So I drew a sketch of how I wanted to layout the cover and then I designed it on my Gypsy.


First of all I made my cover using thicker cardstock. I made the binder edge 2.5 x 12 inches long, and the front and back covers are 9 x 12.

I scored the strip at 1" and 1.5". Then I folded it to make a flat book back edge. Hindsight...Next one I will add a score line at .5" for the book to open at.

I filled the inside of black strip between the two score lines with a generous amount of hot glue. I then let it cool.

Then I glued on my covers. They were cut at 9" x 12". I used regular glue NOT hot glue to attach the covers to the binding.- Hindsight...Next time I will make the entire cover out of one sheet of cardstock and then cover the "binding" with a contrasting piece of paper.


Then I pulled out my YourStory and warmed it up. I carefully lined up some of my daughter's artwork and placed it into my homemade cover.

I then stuck it into the YourStory and hit the bind button.

After the YourStory did its stuff, I pulled it out and let it cool, then I was ready to decorate it.

I used Locker Talk for the icons and Cuttin' Up for the font.
The Kindergarten was cut at 3.24". The Glue, Scissors, and Crayon are all 1.82"
The Letters are cut at 1.24"

Most paper used was DCWV Adhesive Backed Stack as well as using up my scraps for the smaller layers.


I hand cut the glue spill and added glossy accents to it to give it some shine and look like real spilled glue.

I love having double duty for projects. Here this is going to be my entry into the blog challenge and it also uses one of the cartridges I chose for my own personal April Challenge. One down..seven to go! :)

I feel really glad about finally getting this project done. Now I only have to make these for my other girls...

Well off to craft some more.

Have a Great and Crafty Day!

Jan

Heart Shaker Wand

This is a project I made for the Cricut Circle Blog weekly Challenge. The theme is Whatevah! And the requirements are that you use the same shape three times in the project and some spray ink.



I used Cake Basics for the base heart shape. I used my gypsy to make a silhouette layer, and then a solid layer for the back. I placed smaller hearts onto the heart base and silhouette layer and then sprayed it with Glimmer Mist in Candy Apple Red. I then cut a solid heart in acetate and adhered it to the back side of the silhouette layer.


I then cut a lovebug on page 31 from Simply Charmed. I put some googily eyes on him to make him a little sillier.

I attached foam adhesive strips to the perimeter of the base heart, and that gave my sides for the shaker box.

I filled the shaker with Hearts cut from Lacy Labels, and some small glittered heart stickers from my stash. I then inked the sides of the foam tape with red so they blended more with the heart.

I inked a skinny dowel rod with colorbox ink in Cyan, and then attached it to the back of my shaker with E6000 adhesive. I tied some ribbon in red and pink to the dowel right under the heart.

Winter Banner

I am doing double duty again with this project. It fufills two challenges, one for the Cricut Circle Blog, and my cartridge challenge: Using Sugar and Spice.
For the Circle Blog Challenge we were asked to scrap-lift an idea from the blog, and I chose to make a banner.

The other requirements were to use at least two cuts and items from two of the blog sponsors.

The two sponsor products I chose were snowflake paper from American Crafts, and Pearl Glimmer Mist from Tattered Angels.






I cut the tag from Sugar and Spice in the American Crafts Snowflake paper. I also cut it again in a thin chipboard to give the tag some weight. I then used the Tattered Angels Glimmer mist in Pearl to give it a little sparkle. I also cut the shift layer for the tag, but I used my gypsy to hide the center cut so I ended up with a top note shape. I cut this in Coredinations whitewash Barn Siding color. I sanded the edges to bring out some more of the red.

The font used was from Country Life. There isn't a shadow feature for this font so I improvised. The blue mini snowflake paper is from My Minds Eye and it was cut at 1.5 inches. I then cut Salmon colored carstock at slightly larger than 1.5. I layered then slightly off so you can see the red underneath. I added three mini star gems to each letter tag.


The 3D snowflakes were cut from Winter Lace. I cut those at 2.25 inches using Coredinations Crown Jewel in Pearl. I slid the pieces together then taped it down to the tag. I added some blue glittery gems to the ends of the snowflakes.

The Banner was finished with some Make it Christmas Snowflake buttons and red ribbon from Hobby Lobby.

I really enjoyed making this banner. I may make one for every seasonthis year.

Brrr! Card - Week 2 Cartridge Challenge

Here is a card I made for both the Cricut Circle Blog Weekly Challenge, AND my own personal challenge of using the cartridges I drew from my jar. I am glad to be able to combine these challenges into one project.

For the Circle Blog Challenge we needed to use metal, white paint, and a snowflake cut.

My metal was a small piece of a self adhesive sheet made by Quickkutz. I embossed it using the cuttlebug snowflake folder.

I used white paint on the edge of the silver cardstock. Its a little difficult to see in the photo. I used Making Memories Scrapbook colors. Spotlight is the name of the paint color.

My snowflake cut comes from the Holiday Cakes cartridge. I just LOVE this cut! I may use it again in a scrapbook page. I cut it at 3 inches, and some of the details on the smaller snowflakes are hard to see, but overall, I am pretty pleased with how well it cut at that small size.

The Brr! is from Winter Frolic. I cut that at 1"

The silver cardstock is some older Creative Memories cardstock. The light and medium blues are both smooth cardstock from my stash of scraps so I am not exactly sure what brand they are.

I finished my card off with some plain white ribbon from the dollar store and some clear gems.

Light Up Xmas Ornament

Here is the Ornament I made for the Cricut Circle Magazine Xmas Ornament Challenge.
I used an inexpensive light up necklace as the lights on the xmas tree. The Tree cut is from the Christmas solutions cartridge. I cut the main image, the shift layers and a blackout feature. Then I decided where I want the lights to go on the tree and used a punch to make holes for the lights to go through. I then taped the string of lights in between the main layer and the blackout layer. I finished the tree with a little wrap of sparkly fiber.



For the window scene, I used the Window cut from the same cartridge. I used my gypsy to stretch the image out a little to give it some more width. I then cut the image three times, once in dark brown cardstock with the window panes, and twice without the windows panes; one chipboard and one acetate. I adhered the acetate layer to the back of the brown cardstock layer. I used stickles on the acetate for the snow.



For the landscape scene, I also used the cottage from the Christmas Solutions cartridge. I added sparklyfluff to the snow cuts on the roofs and surrounding the cottage. I used the Divine Swirls Cuttle Bug folder for the snow covered hill. The moon and cloud cut was from Dreams Come True.



I attached a string to the top back layer to hang the ornament on the tree, and I taped the battery compartment from the necklace to the back of the ornament.