"Tag-N-Flag" Mini Album

Here's another mini album...it's another "Tag-n-Flag" album, similar to the one I made a while back (HERE).  I love how these albums pop open to reveal every page at the same time!  This is one I taught at a recent class at Hobby Lobby.

Based on a design found here.

Have a creative day!  :)

Fantabulous Cricut Challenge #18: Cool Treats!

The challenge this week over at Fantabulous Cricut is to make a "Cool Treat" shaped project.  I recently found an svg file for sale (here) and loved it, though I decided I wanted to make my own without using any software, just my Cricky (and without spending any moolah)!!!

I scoured my manuals until I got to Paisley and found a......paisley!  It's the scallop-edge paisley ("Accent") and I cut it in "Shadow/Word Shadow" mode.  The layers are cut at 8", 7" and 6".  I cut two layers in each size: one of solid cardstock and one of the patterned paper.  I adhered each of the same-size pieces together for sturdiness.

Then, using my paper trimmer, I trimmed the top pointed part off of each paisley, to leave a half watermelon shape.  I inked the edges, used my Bind-It-All to add a binding at the top and tied ribbons on the rings.  To finish, I added some threaded mini black buttons and the word "Smile" (Create a Critter) to the front.

I haven't added any photo mats or embellishments to the inside yet, until I figure out what I'm going to do with it!  Not sure if I'm going to give this one away or keep it...I'm thinking of keeping it for myself!  Wink, wink!

Hope you'll hop on over to FCCB and take a look at the rest of the AWESOME Design Team projects...they were surely inspire you to make a "Cool Treat" project!

Have a creative day!!!  :)

Fantabulous Cricut Challenge #15: Flip Flop Mini-Album

This week's challenge at FCCB is called Summer Time At The Beach:  Make a project for summer using something you'd find at the beach!  Well, I think flip flops are one of the most common things seen at the beach, so I decided to make a flip flop project.  One problem, though...I had not one single flip flop shape on any of my tons of cartridges!!!

One by one, I scoured my manuals to see if there was a shape I could use that looked like a flip flop.  And I found one!  Of course it was on Wild Card which was at the end of my manuals which I alphabetize.  :)  The only cut I found that resembled a flip flop was the "Porthole" card cut, using "shift" + the "Liner" feature.  After cutting this shape out of chipboard, I rounded the bottom edges and ta-da!!!  Not perfectly flip flop-shaped, but it works.

I used a paper stack by Me & My Big Ideas to cover the flip flop bases.  Then, using my Crop-a-dile, I punched holes on both sides of each flip flop, near the top and one in the middle top of each flip flop as well.  I threaded string through the side holes to hold the flip flops together. 

For the "straps", I threaded red ribbon though the holes and tied knots in the back.  Then I inked paper flowers (Bazzill), added a rhinestone and then attached them on the straps.

To finish, I added wallet-size photo mats to the "sole" of each flip flop.  After I finished, I decided this would be a cute little summer wall hanging, so I didn't bother finishing the back of each flip flop.  :)  Think this will be a cute place to hang pool photos of the kids for the summer.

Head over to Fantabulous Cricut and check out the other fabulous design team projects...you'll be amazed at their creativity!  And don't forget to link up your own project to FCCB by next Sunday to be eligible to win the AWESOME prize that's up for grabs this week!

Thanks for looking and have a creative day!!!

Popsicle Mini-Album!

I saw a simliar mini-album a while back somewhere out in "Google Land" (don't remember where) and wanted to make my own in honor of summer-time!  For this mini-album, I used K&Company "Citronella" papers and coordinating cardstock.  I love how bright and cheery these papers are, perfect for a summer-time treat!

To make the popsicles, I use the Cricut Just Because Cards cartridge and cut the top of the popsicle at 20" (came out MUCH smaller than this!) eight times from some Cheerios boxes.  Each album "page" is a combination of two cereal box popsicle cuts with a wooden popsicle stick glued between them.  There are four pages in all, from 8 cuts.  Then I cut the papers the same size, adhered them to the cereal box cuts (front and back) and inked the edges with white Staz-On ink.

I added wallet-size photo mats to each page and then embellished each page with cuts from the Create a Critter and Paisley cartridges.  A few of the cuts I used include a rainbow, beach ball, flowers and words/phrases.  Then I used the Crop-a-dile to punch holes in each page, added a ring and some matching ribbons!

Hope you like this mini-album!  Thanks for looking and have a creative day!  :)

FCCB Scrappin' Saturday #3: Custom Word Books

Today's FCCB Scrappin' Saturday topic is making your own, custom word books with your Cricut!  This is a mini album word book I made a couple of months ago for a workshop.  I had no idea how to make these until I found this AWESOME, step-by-step tutorial over at ACherryOnTop.  Once I read through the tutorial and tried it for myself, I realized just how simple these are to make!  Note:  You'll need Cricut Design Studio to weld the pages for these albums.

You can pick any font, word, shape or theme from the cartridges you own and make any size mini-album you want!  I just love the flexibility this gives and ESPECIALLY that I don't have to sand or trim my papers to fit on top...just cut them just like you cut your chipboard for the pages and they'll fit perfectly on top!  WOO HOO!!!

If you try one of these albums, let me know...I'd love to see your results!  Head over to FCCB for more information and to check out the other fabulous projects featured there each week!

Happy Scrappin'!

FCCB: Scrappin' Saturday Feature: Custom Shaped Mini-Albums

I am just so proud to be part of the awesome, super-talented group of designers over at Fantabulous Cricut (FCCB)!!!  And I am so excited to announce that Robin has put me in charge of the "Scrappin' Saturday" Daily Inspiration, which will be featured every Saturday at FCCB!

The topic for my first Scrappin' Saturday at FCCB is "Custom Shaped Mini-Albums"...did you know you can make these yourself???  With a little help from your Cricut, of course!  :)   I used the front and back of two ceral boxes in place of costly chipboard and used the George, Plantin, Accent Essentials and Walk In My Garden cartridges to cut the four different flower shapes (and patterned papers to cover each) at 6".  Here are some photos of my project:

Be sure to head over to FCCB to see my original post and information on how to make your own custom shaped mini-album.  And become a follower to make sure you don't miss any of the other great daily inspirations, including:

1.  Challenge Me Monday:  Weekly Challenge Revealed...play along with us!

2.  Quick Tip Tuesday: A great tip on using your Cricut is revealed

3.  Wednesday's Winners:  The winners from the previous week's challenge will be announced

4.  Thursday's Tutorials:  A fantastic weekly tutorial on a Cricut project

5.  Fantabulous Friday:  A wonderful themed Cricut project spotlight

6. Scrappin' Saturday:  Everything related to using your Cricut for scrapbooking

Don't those sound fun?!?!?  Now head on over to FCCB and check out this week's Daily Inspirations!

3D Cupcake Mini Album

This looks just like the cupcake giftcard holder, doesn't it?  Well, it's NOT!!!  It's made very simliarly to the giftcard holder but this one is actually a mini album!!!  Don't believe me?  Check this out:

Ta-da!!!  Isn't that the cutest thing you've ever seen???  Wish I could take credit for the idea, but I can't.  This idea came from the creator of the giftcard holder cupcake: The Stamp Goddess, a CTMH consultant and YouTube sensation!  :)  Go check out her blog and look at her "fabulously artsy" projects!

For this cupcake, I used my Cricut (George) to cut the flowers for the icing and for the circles for the album pages, (and for the bottom of the cupcake to cover the chipboard cupcake holder).  It's a somewhat lengthy project, but not difficult...what a great gift for a birthday girl or just for someone that LOVES cupcakes!  I made this one for a friend of mine that just had a baby boy...just in case you were wondering about the blue.  :)

Thanks for looking and have a creative day!!!

"Family" Mini Album In A Tin

This little tin contains a mini album!  I bought a bunch of these small, round tins at Michael's for a dollar each with the intent of putting some kind of goody in them and decorating the outside, then giving them as gifts.  But they've been sitting on my shelf for a while and so I decided to come up with something else to do with them.  And this is what I came up with!

I decorated the outside with a strip of patterned paper (CTMH Sweet Home) and then put a border sticker around the rim of the lid.  I attached layers of silk and paper flowers (paper flower cut with Cricut WIMG) and an adhesive pearl.  I cut a tag (Cricut George) and printed "Family" on it.

To attach the album string into the tin, I put the end of the ribbon through a hole in the center of a 1 3/4" circle (Cricut George) and used glue dots to stick it down.  Then I added circles on top and bottom of the ribbon for the "pages", leaving a loop of ribbon on the opposite end.

The white cardstock circles are cut at 2" and the patterned paper circles layered on top are cut at 1 3/4" (Cricut-George).  I embellished each page with a variety of elements:  1x1 mini photos of my family, scallop frame (Cricut-Accent Essentials), stamped hearts and sentiments (CTMH), silk flowers, paper flower (Cricut-George), half circles with Martha Stewart's Lace Border punch, brads, adhesive pearls and fibers tied to the ribbon between each page:

Here's a view with the pages all spread out:

This little cutie is going to sit on my living room table and hopefully resist being grabbed by little curious hands!!!  :)  Thanks for looking and have a creative day!

P.S.  I entered this project at:

and:

Easter Egg Accordian Album

The orginal idea for this album came from the April 2007 Issue of Scrapbook Trends Magazine and was created by Lisa Pace.

I decided to recreate this little album for the upcoming holiday, so I would have a place to showcase the Mess Maker and the Noise Maker's Easter photos.

I used CTMH's Boom-Di-Ada papers and the My Creations Memory Showcase Accordion Album (6x6).  I used my Cricut to cut the eggs (Doodlecharms) and the grass (Zooballoo).  I inked everything, including the base of the accordion album.

I inked two flowers and added pearl centers.  Then I cut mini flowers from George and added them to the grass.  I stamped two sentiments onto tags and added them to the flowers.  Now I just need to add some photos and journaling!

Thanks for looking and have a creative day!  :)

Flag & Tag Mini Album

This album was made by following a great tutorial by Patti at Creations by Patti.  Her flag card inspired this mini album!

 

Top view:

I used the cutting dimensions Patti gave in her tutorial, using solid colored cardstock as my base rather than patterned paper.  Then I adhered patterned paper (CTMH-Perfect Day) on the front and back covers and for the inside pockets.  When you pull the covers of this book apart, the "flags" pop in opposite directions, making this a super-unique little album!

I stamped on each of the smaller flags, and also on my tags (CTMH) and inserted the tags into the front and back pockets.  These would be great for extra photos or journaling.

Once closed, I added a cardstock strip around the album and adhered a decorative frame (Home Accents cartridge) to the top with foam dots.  Then I inked a flower and added a button to finish.

Thanks for looking and have a creative day!!!  :)

WINNER!!! (Of My Blog Candy) & Reader Inspiration!

I had some AWESOME entries for my blog candy giveaway and I want to announce the winner of the CTMH Stamp Set.......(drum roll, please)......it's PinkDalmations for her SUPER-cute "Family" word book!!!

Inside view (last page):

Isn't that adorable???  Congratulations PinkDalmations!!!  Be sure to email me your mailing address and I'll send your stamp set to you! 

Here are the other super-awesome entries I received and I wanted to highlight their beautiful work...thank you to everyone that entered and submitted a project!  You've inspired me and I'm ready to go create!!!  :)

Here's a beautiful painted canvas by Emily:

Here are two awesome painted/altered wall canvases by Laura:

And here is a nifty cookbook rack by PinkDalmations (her other entry) that folds up under the cabinet when not in use:

*Note:  Entries that did not link to a specific project were not considered for the giveaway, as they did not meet the specific requirements of the contest. 

Thanks again ladies, for the AWESOME and inspirations projects!!! :)

***UPDATE: Since it has been over a month and I have not heard back from my winner (after two attempts at contacting her) I will now choose a NEW WINNER!!!  Drum roll, please...EMILY!!!  Congratulations Emily!  This stamp set is sooooo fun and is just waiting for you to come up with something beautiful to use it on!  Thanks again for entering!!!