Feather The Nest Baby Shower Invitation

A friend of mine is having a baby and another friend is hosting a baby shower for her...and I got to do the invites!  :)  This idea/theme was not mine, and is based on one found HERE.

I used my Cricut and my Create a Critter and Cindy Loo cartridges.  The bird's tail is pieced together using the wing cut in a smaller size in 3 coordinating colors.  The inside says, "So Let's Feather Her Nest"...  Awwwwwwwwwwww!  :)

"Under The Weather" Card: FCCB Challenge #36--Achoo!

This week's challenge at Fantabulous Cricut is called "Achoo!": create a project having to do wither being sick (i.e. get well card, band-aid, flu-bug, etc.).  I decided to make an "Under The Weather" card!

This card took three cartridges to complete...the cloud is from one of my newest cartridges Serenade.  I LOVE this cartridge!  I didn't use the detailed layer for the cloud, just the base.  Second, I used Forever Young to cut the umbrella and its layers.  And last, I used Create a Critter for the chickie.  The eyes on the chickie are made by following Melin's tutorial at Cooking With Cricut.  Everything is inked and poped with foam adhesive.  The light blue base of the card is also embossed with the Cuttlebug Tiny Bubbles folder.

Hope you'll head over to FCCB and link up your own "Achoo!" Cricut project for your chance to win this week's awesome prize!  

Happy Crafting!  :)

"Live Life" Card: FCCB Challenge #35: Color & Shape Challenge!

This week's challenge at Fantabulous Cricut is a color/shape challenge: use the color green and the shape of a circle somewhere on your project!

I combined the shape/color requirement in my little tree on the card above.  The papers were all scraps I had in my scrap bins.  The circle is cut from the Cricut George & Basic Shapes cartridge and the tree is cut from the Stretch Your Imagination cartridge.  I added a little bluebird from Create a Critter as well.  The sentiment is a Close To My Heart stamp, stamped on white cs and matted in blue.  To finish, I tied a white bow and added a red pearl brad (Eyelet Outlet).

I hope you'll play along with this week's challenge for your chance to win a FANTABULOUS prize!

Happy crafting!!!  :)

Using Party Circles On Cricut & Scrapbooking Projects

My friend Tommie, The Seriously Sweet Party Expert from OhMyGluestick!, gave me early access to her new Harvest Party Circles to prepare some projects and a tutorial over at Fantabulous Cricut!  How stinkin' cute are these:

Adorable!!!

My tutorial shows how to use your Cricut to assemble these cuties into everything from cupcake and treat toppers (which they are designed for) to magnets to cards and more.  Click HERE to go to FCCB and see the tutorial. 

Here are some of the projects I made with the Harvest Party Circles by OMG!:

1.  Cupcake/Treat Toppers (tutorial at FCCB)

2.  Glass Marble Refrigerator Magnets

3.  Custom Brads

4.  Greeting Card (Owl is from Storybook cartridge)

5.  Gift Tag (acorn is from Create a Critter cartridge)

Head over to FCCB for more information!  And be sure to check out OhMyGluestick! for adorable graphics for your next party or Cricut project!

Have a creative day!  :)

Halloween Treat Bags For Teachers!

With Halloween coming up, I wanted to give the Mess Maker's preschool teachers something sweet.  I came up with little treat bag covers to dress-up a plain little cello bag with their favorite candies!

For each bag cover, I cut a piece of 12x12 black carstock in half (2- 6"x12" pieces).  I trimmed one of the pieces to 10", then scored one end of each piece at 2 1/2".  I scored the other end of the 12" piece at 2".  Then I adhered the two 2 1/2" sections together to form one long strip.  I folded along the score lines and folded the 2" flap over the end of the shorter piece and had my cover.  Then I placed the cello bag with candy inside the cover, punched holes at the top and threaded ribbon through to secure it.  Here is a side view:

To embellish, I covered the front with cute little pumpkin paper by the Paper Studio (Hobby Lobby).  I added a die-cut pumpkin (Create a Critter) and printed "No Tricks...Only Treats!" onto it.  I tied green leaf ribbon to the stem and adhered it on the front.  Then I cut two candies from the Mini Monsters cartridge and adhered them on the flap.

Hope the teachers will get a kick out of these "sweet treats"!  :)

Have a creative day!

Teacher Appreciation: Rolo Pencils!

Wish I could take credit for this idea.  Oh well.  It's actually an idea featured in the September 2010 issue of Creating Keepsakes magazine.  I fell in love with these the second I saw them, and decided they'd be a perfect little gift for my daughter's AWESOME pre-k teachers!

The body of the pencil (inside) is a package of Rolos and the tip of the pencil is a Hersheys Kiss attached to the Rolos with a glue dot!

To make the outside of the pencil, you cut a piece of yellow cardstock to 3 1/2" x 4 1/2", trim one short end with scallop edge or zigzag edge scissors, and score every 1/4" lengthwise...wrap around the Rolos and adhere.  Then wrap a 3 1/2" x 3/8 " piece of pink cardstock at the opposite end.  Add a small pink circle to cover the exposed end of the Rolos.  Cover the seam between the yellow and pink pieces with a length of silver foil tape.  Then just wrap the ends with a ribbon and tag.  I used Create a Critter to make the apples on these, and printed my sentiment from my computer right onto the tags.

To finish, I put them each in a clear bag and made a bag topper with each teacher's initial and some embellishments on them.  Super-easy and super-fun!

Thanks for looking and have a creative day!  :)

Monkey Birthday Invitations!

A while back, I made some pink monkey birthday invitations for my niece, Avery, for her first birthday:

My friend Jen asked if I could make some Monkey invitations for her son's sencond birthday. Soooooo, I thought to myself, "why re-invent the wheel"??? I just modified the original pink one I did, and made them for a boy! I made them very similarly, using my Cricut "Create a Critter" for the monkey cuts and the "Accent Essentials" cartridge for the green accent that mats the sentiment.  The monkeys "swing" on the leaf ribbon added to the top of each card!  They're attached with little metal rings that allow them to move freely on the invitation.

I used the same patterned paper (Hobby Lobby) in blue instead of pink. Everything else is the same as on the pink ones. I made 20 of these bad boys. Whew! Hope she likes them... :)

Thanks for looking and have a creative day!

Gone Fishin' Layout: Fantabulous Cricut Challenge #23

The challenge over at Fantabulous Cricut this week is called "The Great Outdoors":  Create a project with an outdoor activity.  We just recently got back from a trip to the river with family and I knew exactly what photos I wanted to use on this project (and what paper I wanted to use...this super-cute fishy paper from 3 Bugs In A Rug)!

The Mess Maker had her first fishing experience, which lasted all of about 1 minute...the moment the fish came out of the water she took off!  Oh well...she takes after her father.  :)

For this layout, I used the Create a Critter cartridge for the fish and Plantin Schoolbook for the title.  I added an eye brad to the fish, and cut a hook and added twine, wrapping the end around the "i" in "fishin'".  The letters in "fishin'" were embossed with the Tiny Bubbles Cuttlebug folder. 

To finish, I pleated some fabric ribbon and added brads to secure it.  I threaded several buttons and adhered them randomly.  And I printed the journaling, cut it into strips and then adhered them at the bottom of the page.

This layout is based on a sketch by Pencil Lines, found HERE:

Thanks for looking and be sure to head over to FCCB and check out the prize up for grabs this week!

Happy Crafting!!!  :)

Horse "Happy Birthday" Card

My grandma was having a hard time finding a horse-themed birthday card for one of her great-grandkids that loves horses...so I made her this one to give him!  I made this one a 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" card since kids like big cards!!! 

I used Create a Critter for the horses (using the "flip" feature on one of them), and used Melin's Face Tutorial for the eyes.  I inked the white card base with two colors of blue ink to make the sky.  Then I tore two colors of green cardstock to make the hills.  I snipped narrow strips into a 3/4" x 8 1/2" strip of the lighter green and ahdered it in front for grass.  Then I hand cut the fence poles, inked them and adhered them over the grass, adding twine behind them to complete the fence.  The clouds are also from Create a Critter.  For the "happy BIRTHDAY" I used CTMH stamps and inks (as well as for the inking on the individual pieces).

I hope he (and my grandma) likes it!  Thanks for looking and have a creative day!  :)

"Shabby Chic(kie)" & "Howdy Partner" Cards (FCCB)

Happy Monday!  It's time for another "Challenge Me Monday" over at Fantabulous Cricut...

I made two projects for this week's challenge:  Zoo/Animal themed project:

I'm calling this first card my "Shabby Chic(kie)" card...get it?!?!?  :)  Hee, hee...

And this little guy is my "Howdy Partner" horsie card.  LOVE this guy!

This week the returning DT members at FCCB got to play with the super-fun "Lots of Pun" stamp set, donated by JoysLife.com.  I chose the "Howdy Partner" and "Hey Chickie" sentiments.  I am a CTMH girl and typically don't use other brands of acrylic/polymer stamps.  But, WOW, was I impressed with these!  These are really great quality stamps and I really enjoyed working with them!  They gave nice, even impressions and the sentiments are just perfect for using with the Create a Critter cartridge!

For the chickie card, I used my Cricut Create a Critter cartridge (say that 10 times in a row!) for the nest, chickie, leaves and flowers.  I used George for the eyes (ovals).  These cards were my first attempt at using Melin's Face Tutorial over at Cooking With Cricut and I must say I am super-pleased with them!  Both of mine kind of look like they're looking up or rolling they're eyes at something, but hey...it's my first (and second) attempt so go easy on me!!!

For the "grunge" flowers, I cut three sizes of the flowers, sprayed them with Distress Ink (Antique Linen) and crumpled them.  Once un-crumpled, I dried them with my heat gun and added a pearl in the middle.  This idea came from Creations With Christina.  Go check out her tutorials...they're awesome!!!  I also decided to "grunge up" my leaves a bit, too...I sprayed them with my homemade CTMH faux "Glimmer Mist" and crumpled them.  I think they go better with the flowers like this.

The horsie card is also from Create a Critter and the eyes are ovals cut from George.  He's inked all over for detail and has another cute face based on Melin's tute.  Thanks again for the inspiration, Melin!!!  :)

Hope you'll head over to Fantabulous Cricut to see the other "Critter" and animal projects made by our super-talented Design Team this week!  Be sure to enter your own project for your chance to win this week's FAB prize!

P.S.  I have a VERY special "Scrappin' Saturday" coming up this Saturday, so tune into FCCB this coming Saturday and check it out!!!

Happy Crafting!

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 #17: Creepy Crawlers!

This week's challenge at FCCB is "Creepy Crawlers":  Make a project using any type of bug AND use the color orange somewhere on your project.  Hmmmmmm.....I made a mushroom card!  Oh, and it has an orange butterfly!!!  :)

The mushroom is cut at 5" from Create a Critter (Cricut).  I inked the edges of each layer and added an extra brown layer in the back to make it a card (attached at the verey top with a thin strip of glue).  The butterfuly is cut at 2" and I added two layers, so that I could open up one wing for dimension.  The top wing is held on with mini foam dots.

To finish, I printed the sentiment "Hello" with my printer onto white cardstock, used a tag punch to punch it out, inked the edges and tied it on with orangy-brown ribbon.  That's it!

Hope you head over to FCCB and take a look at the FANTABULOUS Design Team projects.  They're sooooo cute!  Be sure to enter your own Creepy Crawler creation at FCCB to be eligible for this week's prize!!!

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!  :)

Monkey Mobile For The Noise Maker's Room

The Mess Maker has had a ribbon mobile in her room since almost day one and I decided that (a year later) it was time for the Noise Maker to have one, too!  Since he has animals all over his room, I thought the monkey swinging from the vine from Create a Critter would be perfect!

I cut out 20 vines using the "Fit To Page" function and adhered two together to make 10 long vines.  I hot glued them to the inside of an painted embroidery hoop.  Then I cut out the monkeys and hot glued them onto the vines.  To finish, I used Design Studio to weld three bananas together to form "bunches" and hot glued those randomly over the vines.

Then I hung it onto his light with green ribbon.  That's it!  Thanks for looking and have a creative day!  :)

Fantabulous Cricut Challenge #10: Bags & Boxes Bonanza!

Our challenge this week over at Fantabulous Cricut is called "Bags & Boxes Bonanza": Make a 3D project AND use the color black somewhere on it.

Hmmmmm...I've been in such a spring/summer mode lately, that I wasn't sure what I could make that kept with the spring/summer theme, but would still incorporate black.  But, since I'm totally addicted to the Create a Critter Cartridge, it wasn't long until I found this super-cute little ladybug and knew what I would make...a cute little ladybug gift box!

I made the box base by cutting a piece of black cardstock to 6 3/4" x 8 1/2".  I scored at 2 1/4" inches on all four sides, then cut on score lines as shown:

Next, I folded up the cut sides and adhered them to box sides with Terrifically Tacky Tape:

Once I had my box constructed, I cut my ladybug and layers, making them just big enough to hide the box when looking at it from the front (3 1/2").  I added some flowers, brads and ribbon to embellish this little "lady".  Then I attached the ladybug (and a back plain black ladybug die cut as well) to the box with TTT. 

To finish, I added a 1 1/2" strip of black cardstock for the handle, attaching it inside, and added red paper crinkles in the box.

Hope you like my ladybug box!  Thanks for looking and have a creative day!!!  :)

Monkey Birthday Invitations (Create a Critter)

My neice (who is also my God-daughter) is turning one on May 29th and I got to make her birthday invitations!!!  My sister and her husband call Avery their "little monkey" so the theme for her first birthday was pretty much decided a long time ago.  :)

My sister likes the "Pink Mod Monkey" themed party supplies, so the colors and girly monkey are inspired by those.  For the monkey I used Create a Critter...can I just tell you this is my ALL-TIME-FAVORITE cartridge?!?!?  I used black cardstock for the base, medium brown for Layer 1 and light brown for Layer 2.  She's cut at 3".  I added a flower to her head to make her a "girl monkey", which was cut from Wedding Solutions.

I added some leafy ribbon I purchased from my LSS to the top left corner, punched a mini hole in the monkey's hand and added a small ring to hang her from the vine...she swings!!!  The scallop circle and circle were cut from Storybook and I printed the wording onto the circles after they were cut.  I added a ribbon to ground the circle and attached the the circle with foam adhesive to make it pop.

I made the inside by just running the cardstock through my printer before trimming it and constructing the card base.  The monkey is from my Micorsoft Word Clipart...how cute is she???

Thanks for looking and have a creative day!