Last Flaunt it Fridays

Hello my dearies! Hope everyone enjoyed the long holiday weekend.  It was nice being home and spending time with the hubby and kiddos.  Now it's back to work!

Well, as I mentioned in my last post, this week will be the last at Flaunt it Fridays and the challenge this week is Robotz - anything goes.  This is my submission:

I got the idea to do a rosette from the uber talented Tammy Skinner at Creative Critterz.  She is absolutely awesome and I love her work.  She has a tutorial on how to do the rosettes and I decided to give it a try.  It was super easy.  The hardest part for me was selecting the papers but of course, that's always the hardest part for me.

Here's a closer look at my Robotz.  I really like the way he looks, so happy.  I was working quickly and didn't take the time to jot down sizes.  I added red 1/2 inch Martha Stewart ribbon (I only paid $1 for it @ Michael's) and white 1/4 inch ribbon, also $1 and from Michael's, on the back.  I hot glued the rosette to a circle cut, then added the blue middle doily cut from Cricut American Alphabet already preloaded on the E2.  On top of that I added two more circle cuts, one red and one white. Last, is my Robotz cut.  I really like how it turned out ~ don't know what I'm going to use it for.  I did a few Robotz party favors for a little cousin's 3rd birthday back in February and this would've been perfect for him but alas the moment has passed.

Here's one final look at my submission for the final challenge at Flaunt it Fridays.  I encourage you all to join the fun and make it a big crafting party.  

I'll be back later this week with a few more things....there's a few more challenges I think I want to participate in before the week is out.

Thanks for stopping by!

Sending you crafting wishes,

Jeanette

Throwback Thursday @ My Creative Time

Good Morning Everyone,

By now I'm sure most of you have read that this week will be the last week over at Flaunt it Fridays.  I know I will not be the only one saddened by the news.  While I had followed the blog for quite a while, I had never joined any of the challenges until this past week.  I'm sorry that it took me so long to join and can  honestly say that I had alot of fun participating.  I wish Sandra luck and will look for her at 365 Days of Cricut. A big thank you to all the sponsors that contributed to her weekly challenges.  The last challenge (#25) is Robotz - Anything Goes Challenge.  I already have in mind what I'm going to do and will work on it soon.

On a different note, Emma over at My Creative Time is hosting her regular Throwback Thursday Challenge.  The challenge is to use any "older" cartridge and incorporate the colors green and yellow.  I decided to use my oldest cartridge, "Keystone" which came with my original bug.  I made a card and used the asterisk symbol to make flowers.

I cut 6 asterisks for each color in the following sizes: small (1.22 x 1.59), medium (1.40 x 1.82), large  (1.58 x 2.06).   I sprinkled them with water and kind of bunched them up to wrinkle them a bit and I chalked the edges.  I glued them in the center, one above the other in a stack of three, alternating colors (green on top of yellow, yellow on top of green, etc.) In total I had three flowers.  The last thing I did was add some Stampin Up! crystal effects to make it look like water drops and added some bling in the center. 

The card measures 4.25 x 5.25, in bazzill cardstock ~ Mocha Divine. In the center I added a cut from Create a Critter, pg. 33, I can't think of what it's called, using cardstock from Michael's Recollection line.  I cuttlebugged it using Swiss Dots. I glued the flowers to a brown 1/2 ribbon from the $1 bin at Michaels. The ribbon is adhered to the center cut.  I cut a small tag and wrote "Hello" with my white gel pen but looking back I should've used a black pen instead to make it stand out.        

                                               

Here's a better look at the entire card.  

 

I'm glad I worked on this card early in the day and was able to take it out to the backyard to photograph it. I love the natural light.  This is a first for me because I usually craft at night and photograph right on the spot. 

Hope you like it and thanks for stopping by!!

Sending you crafting wishes,

Jeanette

Official Flaunter!!

Yep, that's right! I'm last week's winner at Flaunt it Fridays.  I'm super excited!! It's the first time I've ever won!!  Thanks Sandra!!

I have another card to show you but I'm running short on time at the moment...I'll just give a sneak peak!

I can tell you that I'm entering it in this week's Throwback Thursday Challenge over at 

My Creative Time.  I'll be back later tonight with the completed project and all the details and of course by then I'll have my Official Flaunter Button!!

Until then, enjoy your Saturday!

Sending you crafting wishes,

Jeanette

Happy Retirement

Hello everyone...hope you are all preparing for the long holiday weekend.  I sure am looking forward to having Friday and Monday off from work...yay me!!

Now onto my post, while blog surfing I came across Challenge #15 at Celebrate the Occasion .  The challenge theme this week is "Retirement".  I opened up the first handbook I found, which turned out to be Wrap It Up, flipped the pages and decided on the car on pg.42.

All the cuts where made at 3.75.  

I cut the main image twice and used glue dots in between the layers to pop it up. 

On the top I wrapped a Martha Stewart ribbon that I bought at Michaels about 2 months ago for $1.  I also added a tag, cut from the same cart, at 1.50. The sentiment is hand written because I didn't have any stamps with the word 'retirement' on them.  I don't have a big stash of stamps, just a handful from various companies.

I also added a little bit of bling to liven things up and some white stitching here and there with my Signo pen.

On the inside I put a blank piece of ivory cardstock and attached two wheels cut at 2.25 to opposite corners.  I was tempted to write another sentiment but changed my mind.  After all, this card along with the others will be mailed to our Troops overseas and I want them to be able to use it for his/her own purpose.

I really enjoyed making this card.  I think I could get addicted to participating in challenges.  I'm definitely looking forward to more challenges. 

On a final note, I came across 'My Paper Love' and guess what? ~ Shelley is having a great giveaway:

Yep, it's the 'Simply Charmed' cartridge. Just become a follower and spread the word. You have until May 30th to join the fun. So go on, hurry up and join!!

Well, my dearies, that's all for today!!

Sending you crafting wishes,
Jeanette

Challenge Me Monday #61

Hello my dears!! I'm so proud of myself today ~ I usually check Fantabulous Cricut for their Monday challenges and always promise myself that I'm going to make time to participate in the challenge.  Then without a doubt, the time whizzes by and before you know it, it's too late to join. Well this time, I actually came home and got right down to it.  The challenge this week is to use the color blue and a cloud.  I figure since I'm on a card marathon, I would use the challenge guidelines to make a card to send to our troops~ one that he/she can use it to send home to a family member.

I made a card which measures 4.5 x 6.  Kraft cardstock from Michael's Recollection collection.  I distressed the edges with a Tim Holtz distressing tool which I bought in Virginia last month and then inked them with memento ink.  The clouds were cut from Create a Critter and embossed using the Cuttlebug and my favorite embossing folder - Swiss Dots.  They are also popped with glue dots. The blue in the card is a dog from the preloaded E2 cart - Cricut Decals.  He measures about 3.50 (I forgot to write down the size), again paper is from Michael's Recollection.  The green grass is also from Create a Critter.

I also decided to put something inside the card. So I cut a piece of white cardstock, adhered it with my 2 way zig glue and attached a piece of grass also cut from the Create a Critter. 

I wrote the following sentiment: "So blue" on the front cover and "without you" in the inside.  It doesn't show up too well but I hope you can get an idea of what it looks like.

  

Well that's all for tonight folks! ~ thanks for stopping by and go check out Fantabulous Cricut and join the fun!!

All my crafting wishes,

Jeanette

Flaunt it Fridays

Hi everyone, hope you enjoyed the weekend.  This was the first Sunday in quite a long time that I actually stayed home and relaxed.  I did a few things around the house and then decided to visit some of my favorite sites.  Boy, am I glad I did! Flaunt it Fridays is hosting a new challenge ~ challenge #24 calls for using the Disney Pooh Font cartridge, pg. 61 to be exact.  On the page you'll find Tigger and his duck.  Well, seeing as to how I have two new grandsons, I decided to do a scrapbook layout for my oldest grandson, Danny.

It's a 8x8 single page layout.  

Overrall, I'm very happy with it.  I printed the picture (3x5) I'm going to use, just so that I could get a better idea of how it's going to look.

I hope my daughter likes it.  Winnie the Pooh was her shower theme, is her favorite character and I hope to  complete his baby book with the same theme.  I already have something in mind for his first tooth layout.  As soon as I get it done, I'll post it here. 

In the meantime, I encourage you to join the challenge. Just visit Flaunt it Fridays for all the details.

Tomorrow, it's back to card making for our troops!

Enjoy!!

Thanks for stopping by,

Jeanette

Finally!!

I finally completed my first entire card from "just a note" cart.  I'm not sure I put it together the way it was meant to be but I managed to finish and I'm somewhat happy with the way it turned out.  There's definitely room for improvement but at least I got one done.  The card marathon continues....I have until May 30th to finish everything and then on the 31st my son will deliver all the cards to the Veteran's Hospital.

Held close with a ribbon

Opened; inside view

Opened with view of front flap

Inside

Close up of outside flap

Tomorrow night I'll tackle the one on pg. 24 of the handbook.  This one should be easier because it's the one that's demonstrated in the handbook.

Thanks for stopping by ~ have a crafty day!!

Jeanette

Pulling my hair out!!

So, as I mentioned before, I'm on a card marathon.  The mission: to make all the cards on the "just a note" cart that is found on the E2.  So far it's not working out.  I'm having a major issue with the layering process.  The sizing is no big deal, everything cuts out appropriately but it's been difficult putting the layers together.  This is how I'm putting the pieces together:

Pg. 22 

card
card shift
card layer
card layer shift

All my pieces from pgs, 21 & 22

  the first time, I did phrase at half the size of the card (see the card at the far back, leaning on the E2).  My biggest problem is that it seems like pieces are missing from the main image on the card.  But I'm determined to keep my promise to my son...in a worst case scenario, I might attempt the cards on the "smiley cards cart' that's preloaded on the gypsy.

scraps put to use.

At least I'm not wasting major cardstock sheets and instead I'm using the million of scraps that I have.

On a happier note, I just found out that there's a new cricut blog (see the new blinkie on the right).  I believe it's hosted by Jinger Adams.  And they're having a contest - the winner has the opportunity to win $100 in cricut.com credit.  Can't wait to see what they have in store for us.

Thanks for stopping by,
Jeanette

Busy, Busy, Busy

Well, it's been a busy week for me. I've been working on graduation favors for my stepdaughter. I made 25 favors, took it easy, one step each day. But before I begin giving you details, I'm happy to report that I finally received my new cartridge from the Michael's Rebate Promotion.  I received my Car Decals cartridge on Friday - quick if you ask me ~  I mailed the rebate form on April 22nd.

I'm so happy with it and can't wait to begin using it.

Now moving on to the favors. I made the boxes from Wrap it up.  I believe they end it up being approximately 3x3.  I was only able to get one on each 12x12 sheet and I used my gypsy.  I used clear cardstock panels behind each opening. 

I wrapped each box with 1/2 in wide gold wired ribbon, finishing over the top and tying it in a box. On top of that I glued printed maroon ribbon with a gold flower in the center.  I love attaching personalized ribbons to favors for special occasions. 

This is what the table looked like.

Inside each box I placed a small organza bag filled with personalized m&m's (graduate's request).

Cardstock used is a combination of Coredinations bought at JoAnn's and Bazzill from Michael's.  I found the Coredinations cardstock much prettier and sturdier than the Bazzill cardstock.

Amidst all the running around before the graduation, I ran to a TJ Maxx and just as I was about to check out I found this beautiful designer paper pad by Me & My Big Ideas.  It's a school theme and I love the colors.  I think the collection is by Ellen Krans.

And lastly, now that I'm done with the party favors is time to get down to my card marathon.  As I mentioned before, my son is working on a community project which involves collecting/making cards for our troops.  They can be addressed to "Dear Soldier" or be left blank so that our soldiers can use them for their own purposes. 

My goal is to make each card that appears in the Just a Note cart that is preloaded in the E2.  This is a trial run, I was following the guidelines for the sample found in the handbook and then realized I had selected the wrong card.  Either way, it gives me a idea of how it's going to look when I select the right colors.  I do love the size, it's 5 1/2.  

The colors are off but I'll do it again tomorrow evening.  Can't wait to complete this project. I'm not good with cards so this will definitely be a learning experience.  Wish me luck!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a Blessed Day,

Jeanette

Communion Favors

Hello to all, thanks for stopping by! I finished my first project for the month of May.  I made 25 communion favors for two cousins that were celebrating their First Communion on the same day.
I used the Wrap it up cart and selected the diploma pillow box.  Using my trusty Gypsy, I hid the diploma so I had a solid pillow box at final cut.  I was able to get two to each 12x12 sheet.  Once that once completed I cut the praying boy from the Inspired Hearts Lite cart.  I love that cut but I did have an issue with the oval outline that surrounds the praying boy.  I noticed that on some cuts that inner oval was cut too thin by the cricut and then it would break of.  It didn't happen to all the cuts, so I'm not sure what that was about.  I cut it using both my original expression and my new E2.

If you look closely at the the pillowbox on the left, it's missing the inside oval and the one on the right has it.

I put a small bag of M&Ms in each pillowbox.

This is what the cake table looked like. 

Everyone was happy with the end result.

Now I'm working on graduation favors for my stepdaughter who graduates from college this week. So I have about 4 days to put those together.  I'll be using the Wrap it Up cart again and this time I'll cut the graduation box that has the cap on the sides of it.  I'll be back Monday night to post those pics.

After that it's a card marathon to make cards for our troops. My goal is to cut every card on the Just a Note cartridge that is pre-loaded on the E2. 

Thanks again for stopping by.  I hope I've offered some inspiration!

Happy Crafting,

Jeanette

More on my new E2

Below are some pics of my new E2:

This label was on the outside of the box.  Basically, it's just letting me know that the digital display for the Cricut Decals was incorrect.  I honestly didn't check this fact when I turned on the machine. I just scrolled through all the cartridges loaded.

This is what the screen looked like as soon as I turned it on:

 After calibrating, which was super easy, only took seconds...

 My awesome Certificate of Authencity

Once I hooked it up to the computer, this is the what the E2 screen looked like as it was updating

 and this is what my Mac looked like

 My handy dandy handbooks. I received all four and enjoyed looking at all of them...

and this is my very first cut from Cricut Essentials.  I used DCWV sticker backed cardstock, the display on the machine read -medium paper and blade depth of 6.  The number facing me on the blade housing indicated 4 not sure if this matters or not.  The machine cut beautifully and quickly.

So far, I have no complains.  I will admit that I'm having a hard time figuring out where I plug in the gypsy.  There are two options on the back one for the electrical outlet and the other to connect the USB to the computer.  I did post on the cricut MB and hopefully will be able to figure it out by this evening. 

I'm glad my E2 arrived so quickly because I have an enormous amount of things to get ready. I'm doing party favors for a communion and a graduation party.

Aside from party favors, I'm getting cards ready that will be sent to our wonderful service men and women.  It's a community project my son is working on. As part of his project he is collecting thank you cards and blank cards that our service men and women can use for their own purposes. I'm hoping to cut out all the cards on the 'Just a Note' cartridge.  Needless to say, May will be a very busy month for me. Wish me luck!!

Well, thanks for looking and I hope you come back and see all my projects...