October 100 Carts Blog Hop

   


Welcome to Day One of Erica's October 100 cart Blog Hop! If you came from Claire's then you are in the right place. If not then you want to start @ http://mycricutcraftroom.blogspot.com so you don't miss a thing. As you can see we are all dressed in pink for Breast Cancer Awareness. It is so important to have your mammogram done yearly as well as performing monthly self breast examination. Here's hint: schedule your appointment around your birthday that way you don't forget to have it done.
 
     Now let's get down to business. I have some great projects using the following cartridges: Art Nouveau, Best Friends, Better Together and Baby Boutique. I also used Picturesque and Accent Essentials to complete my projects. First up is a card I made with Art Nouveau and Picturesque.

     I wanted to make a birthday card for my husband so this is what I came up with. I used the image on page 65 for the pheasant and cut it at 5" including all the layers. The gate is from Picturesque on page 69 and I cut it @ 3 3/4". The layers are so beautiful with these scrap papers that I didn't even have to do any inking. I think that is a first for me, lol.

     See what I mean about the layers? I even used a rose/pinkish color for around the eye. I did want to mention that the gate is cut from a piece of 6" x 6" wood like paper that Erica had sent me. I love those goodies she sends, it's like Christmas morning, lol. I do love to use my cuttlebug embossing folders to add a dimensional background. All you have to do then is add a little ink.

     I also have a cuttlebug die label set by Provo Craft so I made a sign to hang off the fence by using some twine from the Twinery. You can get these supplies in Erica's Store where she always has the greatest prices and a wide variety of products.

     It is hard to tell from this picture and I am a little backwards here but my base card is 4.25" wide by 5.50" tall in order for the pheasant to fit. I guess I am just too excited to show you my next 3 projects which I am sooo happy to share with you. Here ya go......

     Hair accessories! I bought an i-Top a long time ago and had yet to use it. I also had got these hair bands on sale @ Michael's in the clearance section and decided this was a perfect time to think outside the box and come up with something for them and, of course, use my Cricut! I started by making some crocheted flowers 

and then set about to make the brads as my flower "centers".

     If you have been following me then you know how much I love the CCR and my Imagine. I do have a gypsy and the CDS but some how I just feel quite comfortable with the CCR. The first thing I did was to pick a shape to work with. I used a flower shape from Accent Essentials at 2.25" in the blackout feature. Basically any flower shape will do as long as it has multiple petals so the extra fabric will tuck into the brad cover. Next you want to add another mat (layer) but keep your flower in the preview ( this will help to guide you as to the size and placement of your image). For this kitty image I used Best Friends Imagine cartridge on page 17. I used a printable fabric transfer paper as my base. I used the one by Avery.

     In the Imagine, I used each layer separately so I could use print only for the image layer then did the "flower" layer on cut only mode. The Imagine will print first and then unload the mat since you are doing them singularly. Reload the mat and cut the "flower". 

     I used the screw in brads since that is what the hair bands required but there are ones to make brads or buttons. Are you ready to see some more? How about alligator clips with cupcake brads???

     I like the sise of these crocheted flowers better and they go awesome with the cupcake brads. I did these the same way with the CCR and Imagine but this time I used the Better Together Imagine Cartridge.The cupcake is on page 5. Again I used the flower (for the base) this time @ 2" and the cupcake @ .75".

     When I print these I use the best quality. The image still looks some what lighter on the transfer fabric and I wasn't sure if it would hold up. That is why I applied 2 coats of Mod Podge gloss. By doing this the fabric seems to be softer and easier to work with plus I hope it makes it more water resistant. These are my grand daughter Mia's favorite! And lastly........

     I did the same technique but this time I used the crown from Teresa Collins Baby Boutique cart. These were sized the same as the cupcake. You can also add these to clips or any hair accessory.

     Sorry for such a long post but I would love for you to try these. They would make a great gift to have on hand or you could whip up a bunch as early Christmas/Chanukah or birthday presents.

     Be sure to check out Erica's Shop. She always has great prices and you can find all the carts I used for these projects there.

     Now it's time to head over to the lovely Lisa's and see what she is showcasing today. If you get lost along the way here is the line for today:

October hop line up

SATURDAY

1. MCCR http://mycricutcraftroom.blogspot.com/
2. Kathy http://3spoileddogs.blogspot.com  
3. Shelley http://shelley-scrapbookingforfun.blogspot.com 
4. Claire http://threewaterscreations.blogspot.com
5. Mary http://Mary-fortheloveofart.blogspot.com 
6. Lisa Chamberlain http://lisacustomscrapbooking.blogspot.com 
7. Nadja http://nadjarobbins.blogspot.com  
8. Janet http://janetscreativeworld.blogspot.com 
9. Jenn Lorist   http://www.jennspapercrafts.blogspot.com
10. Erica's Projects http://ericasprojects.blogspot.com/
11. Angie http://crazyscraplady-angelpie.blogspot.com
12. Heather http://heathernovinger.blogspot.com  
13. Robin http://create-a-latte.blogspot.com/ 
14. Teresa http://www.createenjoyshare.blogspot.com  
15. Tammy http://www.Cuttinandstampin.blogspot.com    
16. Cathy http://cathyplus5.blogspot.com
17. Lisa carrier  http://ourcraftingcorner.blogspot.com 
18. Jessica S http://jessicascraftshaque.blogspot.com 
19. Blog Candy http://ericasblogcandy.blogspot.com/

Erica's July Blog Hop: Birthday Reminder Book

July's 100 Cricut cartridge blog hop Day ONE

     

     Welcome to Erica's 100 cart Blog Hop! Here, each month, the DT showcases 100 different Cricut cartridges. We hope to inspire you and to take another look at the cartridges you already have or to peak your interest on one you may not yet own.  If you have come from Sarah's then you are in the right place If not then you want to start at the beginning so you don't miss a thing! Here's the line up in case you get lost along the way:

Start http://mycricutcraftroom.blogspot.com/

Jenn Lorist http://www.jennspapercrafts.blogspot.com/

Shelley http://shelley-scrapbookingforfun.blogspot.com/

Kathy S http://3spoileddogs.blogspot.com/

Teresa http://www.createenjoyshare.blogspot.com/

Kathy Jo http://skrappindiva.blogspot.com/

Doris P http://mybugandmecreate.blogspot.com/

Janet http://janetscreativeworld.blogspot.com/

Jenny R http://myimagitivity.blogspot.com/

Bunnyfreak http://digipage-blog.everything-digital-scrapbooking.com/

Erica's Project http://ericasprojects.blogspot.com/

Lisa Ch. http://lisacustomscrapbooking.blogspot.com/

Ashley http://especiallymade.blogspot.com/

Ava http://scrapbookdesign4u.blogspot.com/

Sarah http://craftingwithsarah.blogspot.com/

Mary http://mary-fortheloveofart.blogspot.com/

pattie http://www.sweetpsscrapbooks.blogspot.com/

marji http://www.fstampaholic.blogspot.com/

samantha http://www.samanthascricutcreations.blogspot.com/

Blog Candy http://ericasblogcandy.blogspot.com/

     For my project I used Designers' Calendar and the Imagine cartridges Snapshot Everyday and Yummy. I have a really useful and practical project to share with you, a Birthday Reminder Book. Since we have 5 adult children and their spouses (or girl friend) and 8 grand kids plus 4 wedding anniversaries, it can be hard to keep everything straight. That's not to mention the fact that that our oldest son and his family are in Florida and one of our daughters and her husband are relocating to California after 3 years in Hawaii. So let's get right to the details.

     Isn't this just the perfect size? It only measures 2.5" x 4.5" so it is perfect to slip in your pocketbook. First I started with some pieces of chip board. the cover is the balloon paper from Snapshot Everyday on page 3. I used the Imagine shape 3x5 that is built into the Imagine machine and print and cut a totally of 4 pieces. I used 2 for the outside covers and 2 for the inside. After I adhered them to the chipboard, used the Round it All by Zutter to round the outer corners and punched the binding with my Bind It all machine. You can find these great tools at Erica's Store. She has great prices and I have given you the direct link to the Zutter page but please take a few moments to do some shopping while you are there for some of the wonderful crafting supplies Erica carries. Oops, I digress, lol.

     After the cover was all dry I decided to ink the edges and much to my chagrin, I had some ink splotch where I really did not want it to go. No problem. You see the spotted balloon? I gave it a touch of Avocado liquid Pearls to cover the mistake. I decided to do it on the back cover as well so it looks like it was intentional! 

     I didn't want to use a cupcake since this is really for all sorts of celebrations so I used the present from the Imagine cart Yummy.This image is found on page 19 and I cut it at 2". I kept all the layers combined for this project.I inked the edges with Distress ink Worn Lipstick and added some smooch to the flourish on the present and more Liquid Pearls on the bow. Will you just look at all those envelopes, lol. I found these pkg. of mini envelopes at Michaels and they are just perfect for this project. Hmm, I wonder what is inside?

     I started by cutting the flaps off the envelopes and used a circle punch to cut out a little tab.The months were made by using Designers Calendar. I started with black card stock and the boxed feature. All were sized @ 1.25". This is a fabulous way to use all those small scraps of left over paper. I just glued the boxed month on scraps of colors and then cut them down by hand. It is best to punch your holes first so you can center the words correctly.

     I love using the CCR and my imagine together it makes a project go so much quicker. first i used a tag from Art Philosophy @ 3.25". Still in CCR, I added another mat and added the names of the months sized @ .75". This way when you go to print and cut, I use the separate layers option and print the months first, then cut the tags. I did want a lined area to write the dates in so I used George and Basic Shapes to cut a rectangle @ 2.75". The rectangle I used is on page 112 rectangle of the handbook. Boy did I use a lot of scraps on this project just look at the different tags, lol!

     After adding an eyelet to each tag I went through my stash of ribbons and brads to finish them all off. Here is a sample of a few of them:

     I hope you have enjoyed my little project. I plan on making more of these for Christmas presents to go along with the card boxes I am making. Be sure to leave a comment on each of the blogs in the hop this week end for a chance to win some goodies. Did I say goodies? How about I give away some blog candy? I will be giving one lucky follower a set of Pink By Design Stamps "All In The Family". This is a "Pay It Forward" I received from Erica. I was sent this extra set by mistake but asked  Erica if she would mind if I gave it away. Of course she said yes, lol.

     Next stop along the hop is Pattie http://www.sweetpsscrapbooks.blogspot.com/ be sure to hop over and see what she has created just for you.