Monica's First Video

Monica's First Video

Our First Challenge

This is our first challenge.  It is called "Using the Old with the New."  We hope all of you participate. We could use some great ideas to help us revisit the oldies but goodies :) !

Monica watches YouTube videos for each of the cartridges she has (yes, she has certain favorite crafters!).  One thing she has noticed is that for the older cartridges, all of the videos are older.  That gave her the idea for the Challenge.

The Challenge is to use one of your OLD cartridges and give the project a NEW twist (e.g. using a new product, idea, technique, etc.).

Nancy and Monica have each created a project for the Challenge (see below).  Nancy created a 12 x 12 double page scrapbook layout and Monica created a set of note cards.

We hope you enjoy the Challenge.    

Nancy's Challenge Project:

OLD:  Cricut Animal Kingdom cartridge

NEW: New technique, or maybe not so new (torn paper and chalk)

  Details 
All animals: black card stock
Elephant and Zebra: Border, 3"
Giraffe: Blackout, 5 1/2", flip
Lions: Blackout, 2 1/2", cut 2
Sunset background: gradient shades of amber and gold, gold chalk to break up large gold (cats-eye citrus)
I used a textured black card stock for the animals and a smooth black card stock for the ground. I think it would look even better with smooth for both. For this technique, white-core paper is not recommended. 

Monica's Challenge Project:

OLD:  Cricut Walk in My Garden cartridge

NEW: Favorite new products (watercolor pencils, MyPinkStamper stamps, Gelly Roll Clear Star pen, Stickles & Viva Decor pen); also, new to card making

CARD 1:



 CARD 2:

CARD 3:



DETAILS FOR ALL 3 CARDS:

- Card 1 is on page 112, Card 2 is on page 115, and Card 3 is on page 119; cut each on "Card" function key at 3.25" x 3.25" (note card itself is 3.5" x 7" , folded in half)

 - "Shift" & "Card" function will give you the bug layer (note: cut 1 bee in yellow & 1 in black because only 1 layer)

- envelope is from page 128, using "Shift" & "Card" function, cut at 3.75", the flap was trimmed with a scallop & dot punch from EK  

- all solid card stock is Bazzill

- all patterned card stock is a two-sided card stock from Amanda Blu, called "Bonnie Blu" (latest Big Lots grab!); Note: this paper cuts great in the Cricut!

- all black stamp ink is StaZon ink pad    

ADDITIONAL DETAILS FOR CARD 1:

- The scalloped circle on front is from Storybook cut at 1 1/2" (I have a lot of those pre-cut in different sizes I keep on hand to speed up projects) and smudged around the edges with ColorBox ink in Daffodil, popped up with pop dots 

- "Bee-u-tiful" stamp on front is from MyPinkStamper, "Punny-licious"

- ribbon is from Michael's $1 bin

- Bee has been enhanced with Yellow Stickles, which have also been used for the 3 dots on the top right corner of the card 

- inside sentiment stamp is from Stampin' Up

ADDITIONAL DETAILS FOR CARD 2:

- The sentiment strip on front is 1/2 " by 3.5" and edged with Brilliance ink in Crimson Copper, popped up with pop dots 

-the stamp on front is unknown brand (I borrowed it from Nancy)

- ribbon is from Michael's $1 bin

- Dragonfly has been enhanced with Eucalyptus Stickles 

- inside rectangle is a scalloped rectangle from Create a Critter  (also one of the pre-cut images I keep on hand), cut at 3.5" with the left & right sides cut off to cut it down to 3.5"wide, and smudged around the edges with ColorBox ink in Daffodil  

- inside sentiment stamp is from Stampin' Up & inside border stamp is unknown brand, both are enhanced with Staedtler Watercolor pencils

ADDITIONAL DETAILS FOR CARD 3:

- rectangle on front is a scalloped rectangle from Create a Critter  (also one of the pre-cut images I keep on hand), cut at 1.5" with the left & right sides cut off to cut it down to 1.75"wide, and smudged around the edges with ColorBox ink in Daffodil, popped up with pop dots 

-the stamp on front is unknown brand (I borrowed it from Nancy)

- ribbon is from Michael's $1 bin

- Ladybug, flower on paper and "Hello" have been enhanced with GellyRoll pen Clear Star, dots below "Hello" have been enhanced with Viva Decor paper pen in black 

- inside border stamp is unknown brand, enhanced with Staedtler Watercolor pencils

Easter Layouts

Here are two 2-page Easter layouts that I just completed (ignore the fact that they are for Easter 2008!).



EASTER MORNING

CM Page Planner Template - 1 Flower
 CM Gazebo Paper
CM Gazebo Family Sticker (right)  

3 Center Photos are 3.5 x 65
Left Photo is 2.5 x 3.5 matted to 3 x 4
Bunny in Basket is mounted on
3 x 6 mat that was embossed with
Cuttlebug Create a Critter Companion folder

Cricut:
Stretch Your Imagination for
Bunny & Basket (3 1/2 in.) 

Basket was detailed with Gelly Roll Pen Clear Star
Bunny detailed with Stickles
Bunny eyes with Viva Decor Pen in black
Easter ribbon from Michaels



EGG DECORATING

Creative Memories (CM)
Page Planner Template - 2 Hearts
 CM Gazebo Paper  

Top & Bottom Photos are 3.5 x 5.5
Middle Photo is 3 x 5 matted to 3.5 x 5.5

Cricut:
Once Upon a Princess for Font cut at 2 in.
Stretch Your Imagination for
Bunny on Eggs (11 1/2 in.) 
Cut additional Paint Brush Layer (left)

Eggs & Paint brush were decorated
with various Stickles





EGG HUNT

CM Page Planner Template - 4 Circles

Colorbok Paper in Bright  2- 6 x6 squares
Nana's Kids Paper 2- 6 x6 squares

All Photos are 4 x 6

Cricut:
Hello Ktty Font cut at 3 in.

CM Flowers from Delight pack with
Stickle in center





EGG HUNT

Colorbok Paper in Bright behind photos 
Nana's Kids Paper on bottom border
Cricut paper for grass

Cricut:
Create a Critter for
Bunny and basket (3 in.)
Everyday Paperdolls (p. 77) for Grass
cut at 11 1/2 in width (I removed cattails)

Eggs in grass & basket made
with various Stickles

Bunny detailed with Stickles
Bunny eyes withViva Decor Pen in black

CM Flowers from Delight pack with
Stickle in center



Star of the Week Poster

Per the request by the comment posted below, I am posting this project.  This is a poster I made for my daughter when she was Star of the Week.  We were supposed to show how our child has grown.  Her name was across the top in large colorful print, but I decided to crop that out.  For the poster, I included a 3x5 matted picture from baby, 1, 2, 3, 4 and present (she is 4 1/2), with smaller unmatted pics in between.  For each year I added a look alike paper doll (Baby - Cricut Stretch Your Imagination; 1, 3, 4 & Now - Everyday Paper Dolls; 2 - Paper Doll Dress Up; Peachy Keen Stamps - Wide Eyed Kids Assortment), each increasing in size and reflecting her then current hairstyle. 

I had so much fun making this.  It was funny, my daughter was helping me & I had planned to use the paper doll that is at the 4 year mark with her "Now" picture.  She told me that I could not use that one there.  It looked like it belonged at 4 years.  Being the dutiful mom that I am, I made another paper doll for her "Now" picture.  She was right, we made it look just like that picture!

One important thing, I used a repositionable adhesive to mount the items on the poster board (I did NOT use my ATG).  That way when I am ready, I can add the pictures & paper dolls to my scrapbook!

New Card Projects



BIRTHDAY CARD:

Cricut Birthday Bash Cartridge:
- Elephant (p. 38) 3.5 in
- Flag (p.41) 2 in
- Hat (p. 53) 1.5 in
- #4 (p.24) 1.25 in

Stamps:
MyPinkStamper Tweetie-Hoo Puns - Hoo-ray For You! (on flag)
MyPinkStamper Sweetest Cupcakes - Happy Birthday Sweetie (inside)

Papers:
- Purple Card Stock for Card 12x6 folded to 6x6 card
-Stripe paper is 5 1/2 x5 1/2 and embossed with Cuttlebug Circles & Dots
-Polka Dot Strip is 1 1/2 x5 1/2
- Polka Dot Paper on inside is 5 1/2 x 5 1/2

Embellishments:
Viva Decor Pen - Magenta for toe nails & Black for eyes
All Sparkle edging is Gelly Roll Pen in Clear Star
Celebrate It ribbon in pink metallic
Crystal pink flower (brand?)
Light Purple ink around edges of card
Black Ink for stamps



THANK YOU CARD (this card is for a man, so I tried to stick with more muted colors):

Create a Critter Cartridge:

- Lamb (p.71) 3 in

- Scalloped Circle (p.62) 4 in

Stamps:

MyPinkStamper Punny-licious Stamps - Thank Ewe

Papers:

-BlackCard Stock for Card 9x6 folded to 4 1/2x6 card

-Light Green paper is 5 1/2 x 4 

-Dotted Strip is 1 1/2 x 6

- Dotted Paper on inside is 5 1/2 x 4

-Scalloped Circle is Cricut Paper from Purples & Pinks embossed with Cuttle Bug Swiss Dots

-Lamb is Cricut Paper from Greens & Black 

(except light grey for fleece is other side of paper used for scalloped circle) 

Embellishments:

Viva Decor Pen - Black for eyes and hooves

Gelly Roll Pen in Clear Star for ears & mouth

Black ribbon with hearts (brand?)

Brilliance Ink in Starlight Black for Stamp and for scalloped circle on dots and around edge

Launching a New Blog

Let me introduce myself. I am Nancy. My sister, Monica, and I have been totally addicted to scrapbooking for the past five plus years. We have recently expanded into cards and various techniques including stamping, embossing, distressing and more. The Cricut is our number one favorite tool of all times.


The main purpose of our blog is to share ideas, techniques, web sites, products and other information that we particularly like. We would love to share your ideas as well.  I would also like to provide handy guides about tools and other products to help make your buying decisions easier.


Since Monica is addicted to online shopping and You Tube, she can provide us with links to the best deals and videos. Eventually she wants to make her own videos. Monica has young children so she can share wonderful papercrafting projects as well.


Let us know what you would like to see. Check back with us to see what's new. Happy scrappin'!