My Pink Cricut

Two Page Layout Scrapbook Page

2011-03-03T08:21:00.000-08:00

Very simple premade scrapbook double page layout made using my Pink Cricut.

I am making a scrapbook for a friend's baby girl and wanted to share this layout since I used my Cricut. The title "FIRST CEREAL" was cut at 2 inches using the Hannah Montana cartridge and font Daddy's Girl.

The circles were cut at 11 inches and 5 inches from the Accent Essentials cartridge. The flowers were also cut from the Accent Essentials cartridge at 2, 1.75, 1.5 and 1.25 inches. The flower centers are real buttons that I hand stitched on. The small circle on the right page is for journaling. The journaling will be on light beige cardstock cut to 4.5 inch circle added to the darker circle you see on the layout.

This is a very simple, classic layout that will hold 6 photos. If you have less photos, this layout could still be used as it is very easy to move the photos around on the layout and the layout still looks good. Try matting photos or use a 5x7 photo on the right side. However you add the photos this layout will still look good I think. I can't wait to add my friends photos, they are upclose of the baby sitting in her chair that has several shades of beige circles on the fabric.

I have recently been shopping from my stash and was so happy to find this color pattern paper. I received this pattern paper and Bazzill cardstock at the 2003 Disney CK Convention during a giveaway. I have had it all this time just sitting in my paper box waiting for the perfect photos.

Provo Craft You Tube Channel

2011-02-28T17:23:00.000-08:00

Did you know Provo Craft has a You Tube channel? There are several new videos about the Gypsy on it and guess what I just learned how to do? Hide Contours I knew the Gypsy had this sweet feature but didn't know how to get to it and wouldn't have known how to use it after I found it. LOL Below is the link to ProvoCraft Channel, once on their channel just search for Gypsy
http://www.youtube.com/user/provocraft

Inspiration Cafe Bradenton Closing

2010-12-11T09:57:00.000-08:00

Received an email last night announcing the closing of the scrapbooking place called Inspiration Cafe Bradenton on December 17, 2010. So sad, yet I understand why this decision was made. I hadn't gone there much at all in the past year or so, for whatever reason. I generally scrapbook at home, I am really not a crop going kind of girl, but enjoyed seeing all my friends and chatting. Hopefully, Palm View Baptist Church in Palmetto, Florida will continue their once a month Craft Day so I can keep in touch with everyone occassionaly. And I think there is another Church in Bradenton that does a monthly Craft Day. I will get more information on that and post it later.

Craftin Cow

2010-12-09T16:51:00.000-08:00

Scrapbooking in Punta Gorda, Florida is going to have a new happy place to scrapbook and stamp. Check out their blog. http://www.craftincow.blogspot.com/ .

Custom Designed Cricut Cartridges!! What do you think??

2010-12-09T09:11:00.000-08:00

Custom Designed Cricut Cartridges...just wondering if anyone really reads my blog, leave me a comment and I will send this to ProvoCraft for a suggestion.

I am a paper piecer, I love drawing patterns and cutting little things to fit my Tear Bears. Probably the main reason I didn't buy the Cricut years ago like all my friends did was because I always felt it was more diffcult to use than just drawing and cutting. I also feel that the shapes are cut backwards...meaning I want a blackout shadow then build from that, layer upon layer, not fill in circles etc as currently designed. I want it to look like my layered paper piecings. Look in my photos for the Pirate layout to see what I mean.

So I was thinking...Provocraft wouldn't even need to manufacture these Custom Designed Cricut Cartridges in China. Just let me send them my drawings for my paper piecings that I use over and over for my tear bears and premade scrapbook pages and ProvoCraft could turn them into a download for my Gypsy. And there are quite a few scrappers who sell their paper piecing designs in a DVD/CD format on Ebay, Etsy and personal websites that would probably love this service from ProvoCraft AND PC could employ a few US out of work people to do this service. Win Win if you ask me!

Is anyone out there listening to me...ProvoCraft??? Anyone???

Just a thought...

Saving Paper with Cricut and Gypsy

2010-12-09T08:44:00.000-08:00

Christmas Ornament layout made using my Gypsy and Pink Cricut. Once again I am using circles on a scrapbook page layout.
Because I make several of each layout to sell, the Gypsy saved me a little money on this layout as I was able to position the circles for multiple layouts on the 12x12 mat.
The gold ornament hanger is cut from the Christmas cartridge and I added the scallop from the Accent Essentials cartridge to the hanger.
Since I haven't found a Cricut cartridge with a cursive font that I am in love with enough to buy, I used Quickutz die to cut Christmas and the letters 2010. I made the tear bears.

Using My Gypsy Free Cartridge Christmas

2010-12-07T08:30:00.000-08:00

I try to use my Gypsy every chance I can, but generally I either use a Quickutz or Accucut die or cut the shape by hand. I just find it so much quicker.
Yesterday I realized I only had two sheets of this beautiful gold cardstock left and no local scrapbook store to run out and buy another from. I have several layouts to make and wanted to use this for the clip/hanger piece of an ornament for a layout I am planning.
I used the free Christmas cart for the circle pieces and Plantin Schoolbook for the scallop pieces and on the Gypsy I was able to place all the pieces in a way that I only used a half sheet of paper for cutting all the pieces. WOO HOO
I will post the adorable tear bear layout soon, need to get it finished first. It makes me happy to use my Gypsy and Cricut. ;-)

SNOW DAY

2010-10-31T14:38:00.000-07:00

Another successful easy page made with the help of my Cricut and Winter Wonderland cartridge to cut the title. It only took me three attempts to get the title to cut out without it either ripping or not cutting through the paper. I used my Quickutz to cut the photo corners. The snow men are printed on the pattern cardstock.
I wish ProvoCraft had a program like some of the other home based party businesses like Close to My Heart. They could train the consultants so they could in turn train all of us who struggle getting this stinkin' machine to work well. Don't focus so much on selling more more more, put the focus on using the products so consumers are happy and then they will buy more. Still think I have defective blades....

Using My Gypsy

2010-10-25T09:27:00.000-07:00

I got all excited last week when I read on the Cricut messageboard that Gypsy owners would be receiving 6 free downloads on November 1. WOW what a deal, and luckily I don't have any of the cartridges. So I dug out my Gypsy and decided to use it for the next layout I made. I have photos of the kids carving Pumpkins so decided to make a layout that had five photo mats, four 4x6 and one 4x4 mat.
I like the Jack-O-Lantern on Gypsy Wanderings so I started with the first layer Shadow of the pumpkins and welded them to make an almost 12 inch length and about 1.75 inches tall. For layer two, I used the jack-o-lantern also on Gypsy Wanderings and flipped it to the right and left to match the pumpkin borders, sized the pumpkins to match the shadow, then welded them. Waa Laa, a perfect Jack-O-Lantern border with a shadow.

I then cut the title piecess pelling Carving using the Princess cartridge. I had to adjust the size of each letter to get them to weld together nicely, it was worth the time and trouble I think. I love the welded look. But when it came to the word Pumpkins...ok, by then I was getting impatient and wanted to finish the layout so I quickly cheated and cut the letters with my Quickutz Diesel and shadow. Hey, what can I say, I am a Quickutz lover still !! And last but not least, used my Accucut photo corner die and my GrandMark machine to cut the five photo corners. And then of course, I zig zag machine stitched the mats on the layout which is another passion of mine, sewing.

I don't think I have ever seen a photo corner on a Cricut cartridge...humm will have to check that out.

And now for the best part, not only did I get one of my own layouts make, I sent the photo to customers who also want the layout, WHOOOP WHOOP !! Love making money, then I can spend money. LOL My contribution to keeping this economy going.

Such a simple, simple layout that looks adorable with photos of Pumpkin guts and Jack-O-Lanterns with candles in them taken at night.

2010-09-05T11:34:00.000-07:00

I have found a great use for the Plantin Schoolbook cartridge...cutting perfect circles which I seem to be putting on all my layouts recently. This is an 11 inch circle, well actually two circles then cut the pink paper at 8 inches to put the two colors together.
Nothing else on this layout is from the Cricut. I handcut the tree to match the pattern in the paper. The scallop edges and photo corners are Accucut dies. I also used my Accucut to cut the chipboard letters and cover them with cardstock. I know all of this could be cut using your Cricut, hence the reason it is on my Cricut blog. Hope this inspires you to make a layout using your Cricut!

Posh Scraps Store

2010-06-27T08:17:00.000-07:00

Posh Scraps was everything I love in a scrapbook store! I felt calm and happy while I was shopping, not too noisy but just enough buzz to feel inspired. The store is not cluttered but has plenty to pick from. The owner is very nice and personable which goes a long way when it comes to the success of a store, in my opinion. It also could have been the great company I was with, dd#1 and three great friends. You know I was enjoying myself as I was the last to leave, not like I used to do and wait outside while others finished their shopping.
And the other greatest thing...with my daughter's help of her GPS, I now know how to get there from Bradenton, over the Skyway, down I-275, then over to McMullen Booth Road to Tampa Road, yeah, no Hwy 19 and all the construction. I never realized just how close I-275 is to Hwy 19, only a block apart or so. So the trip to Posh Scraps is one I can do even when I don't have a driver! Thanks dd#1 for driving me there.
Unfortunately, since dd's just returned from Chicago and the Archiver's trip, we have 119 pieces of patterned paper staring us in the face so I didn't buy much. But what I did buy is soooo awesome and I am so excited as I can finally make the first page of my kids baby book. I have never made that page, was just waiting for the perfect baby paper to come along and as soon as I saw it I knew that was the paper!! Teresa Collins Chic Be'be Boy and Girl are the perfect paper for my Prince and two Princesses.
I wish the store great success!

POSH SCRAPS

2010-06-21T08:02:00.000-07:00

Happy to see a new scrapbook store opening! What used to be Ruban Rouge in Palm Harbor, Florida is now Posh Scraps. Ruban was never one of my favorite stores, in fact, I always felt so overwhelmed there that I had a hard time buying anything. Never could really put my finger on what it was, just the negative feeling I would get. So hopefully Posh Scraps will be an inspiring store to visit and not be soooo full of stuff and cluttered to the point that you can't walk through the store.
My favorite scrapbook stores were Scrapbook Shoppe, which is now closed and Whimsodoodle which is still open but I haven't been to in months. So hopefully, dd and I can make a road trip while she is visiting and go visit Posh Scraps.

Cricut Circle

2010-06-15T10:20:00.000-07:00

Cricut Circle seems to be taking a beating on the message boards. The Cricut message board is soooooo slow today that I finally just got off but not before I joined the "Squarelets", an elite group of Cricuteers who aren't going to pay the ridiculous $275 to join the Cricut Circle. It is all in fun and entertained me this morning while I should have been working on another Circut Dust Cover that I have an order for LOL !!
But anyone wanting to join the Squarelets and have a little fun click here:
Join the Cricut Squarelets

SWARM June 25,26,27 Punta Gorda FL

2010-06-03T09:01:00.000-07:00

From Betty Brett...

Howdy!!! Just a quick note to let you know that I still have a few openings for my

June 25, 26, 27

ROUND UP!!

This SWARM (or Scrapbooking Crop, for those of you new to the jargon!)

is a ton of fun, and will be a

boot scootin', high kickin' rootin' tootin' great time!!!

Registration is only $35 for the three day event, and this will include:

Door Prizes, Goodie Bags, Challenges, Tutorials, Snacks and Drinks,

Belgian Waffle Breakfast on Saturday!

Dougs's FABULOUS BARBECUE on Saturday!

For our charity this time we will be rounding up

School items for Ms. McNeal's Head Start Classroom!

Please reply email that you'd be interested in coming!!!

(or even a little email, if you can't would be lovely!)

This is the ideal place for beginners and experienced scrappers alike!!

Happy crafting~

BettyBee

CONTACT BETTY ON HER BLOG

WWW.BETTYBRETT.BLOGSPOT.COM

Once Upon a Princess

2010-05-06T14:38:00.000-07:00

If you scrapbook for girls, Once Upon A Princess is a must have cartridge. I think it pretty much covers everything including an upper case font. Now that ProvoCraft has revised their Angel Policy I will definately be making Tear Bears to go with this cartridge.
There are layers, phrases, gems (shapes), font, tag shapes and shadow for phrase. Then a ridiculously adorarable 3-D castle and much more!!
The phrases are: Sugar and Spice, My Girl,Sweetheart, If the Crown Fits, Princess, Splash, Drama Queen, Magical, Darling, Queen of Hearts, Birthday Girl, Happy Birthday, Time to Party, Rockstar, Angel, One-of-a-Kind, ooh-la-la, Buffalo Gal, Tiny Dancer, Slumber Party, Once Upon a Time, Almost Perfect, Celebrate, Pretty in Pink, Baby Cakes, So Sweet, Cupcake, Never Enough Cake, 4 you, Queen 4 a Day, All dolled up, Special Day, Sparkle, Too cool, Lucky Girl, Precious, Best Friends, Tea Party, Tea For 2, Party Time, Surprise, Girlfriends, Birthday Party, Royal Diva, Spoiled, Royal BFF's.

ONCE UPON A PRINCESS

2010-04-30T09:08:00.000-07:00

Finally, I won an Ebay auction for Once Upon a Princess Cricut Cartridge for $30!! I have been bidding for several days and they have been going for more than what I want to pay ($27) but I finally gave in and paid the extra $3 to win the auction. I decided it wasn't worth waiting any longer, I really want to play with it on my Gypsy. I think all of my cartridges, except Old West and Paisley, have come from Ebay auctions and I have paid less than $28 for all of them except three. I wonder how Ebay stores can sell them for so much less than Michael's sale of $39.

Card Classes Bradenton Florida with Betty Brett

2010-04-18T08:51:00.000-07:00

Would you like to make some beautiful cards?!! Do you live in the Bradenton Florida area and want to take card classes? Check out Betty Bee's blog for a peak of two of the cards she will be teaching at her upcoming Teach Me Tuesday card classes starting April 20, 2010 from 7p-9p in Bradenton Florida at Betty Bee's studio and the cost is only $10 for 3 cards. The cards are stunning!! Betty will be teaching card classes twice a month, become a follower of her blog for more information to come. You can contact Betty directly through her blog.
Studio Bee Bradenton Florida

Dust Covers to fit Cricut Expression for sale

2010-04-15T10:23:00.000-07:00

Cricut Dust Covers for sale.
I know, I know...I said this was just going to be my Cricut personal scrapbooking and project blog. But, you know me, I changed my mind. I have added a link in the right column where I have Cricut Dust Covers for sale on Ebay. What I have listed is all that I have currently. I'm not doing custom orders, I am more fly by the seat of my pants so when the mood strikes me I sew and when the other mood strikes me I scrapbook and then on really goood moody days, I do both...LOL

Cricut Organization

2010-04-10T08:08:00.001-07:00

I have had my Pink Cricut Expression machine since August and really hadn't given it a permanant home until this week. Some of the girls I scrap with use the wire rack at crops for their Cricut. DD#2 had the wire rack left from her college apartment days so she gave it to me. I haven't tried to actually use the machine on it yet, but will let you know if I like it. Under the rack I have my Gypsy stored in one pink pencil case from Target and her cords in the other. The mats are stored in the pink fur case on the counter.
I am just an organizing maniac this week, plus I have been scrapping every day!
UPDATE!!! My Cricut works great on the wire riser!!! LOVE using it there.

Recipe Card From My Kitchen Cartridge

2010-03-26T12:12:00.001-07:00

Recipe card using From My Kitchen. I love this stove, it is just too cute. I definately will use it on another recipe card, just make a smaller version.
This was cut at 5 1/4" to fit a 6"x6" card. And I can't even begin to tell you how I got the printed recipe cut using the Cricut. Pure luck that it all lined up!!
The knobs on the stove are clear rhinestones, but I think the scanner picked up red tones from the strawberries on the zebra stripe hotpad. Every stove needs a zebra stripe hotpad, don't ya think!! LOL

6x6 Recipe Card Using Gypsy and Cricut

2010-03-23T16:27:00.000-07:00

Recipe card using From My Kitchen and Old West cartridge. On my Gypsy using Old West cartridge I welded the letters and changed the sizes of them to be taller and thinner than the regular font would be cut with the Cricut so they would fit along the side of the card. I really like welding words on the Gypsy, it makes it so much easier to adhere the entire word and not single letters.
I cut the fork and spaghetti using From My Kitchen cartridge. I am still not very good at layering...I'm not sure if this is what the fork is supposed to look like, but it looks like spaghetti on it to me!! LOL

Recipe Card Using GYPSY

2010-03-22T13:54:00.000-07:00

Simple recipe card using my Gypsy and From My Kitchen cartridge.

Since this paper already had chickens on it, I decided to only make a simple chicken border to go on it, with a little ribbon and matted recipe and inked of course.

I am totally impressed with myself, as I used the flip sideways button and welded the little chickens together to make a border. To get six chickens to fit on the small 6"x6" card, I unlocked the aspect ratio link (chain turned white) and set the width to 5.5 inches and the height at 1 inch after the images were welded.

I very gently and carefully inked the edges of the chickens with cranberry Close to My Heart ink using a tiny piece of sponge.

Even if you don't own the Gypsy or design studio, this card could easily be made by just cutting individual chickens at 1 inch tall and overlapping their beaks/tails slightly, add some ink and you are done!

Recipe Cards Using Gypsy and Cricut

2010-03-19T15:37:00.000-07:00

So I really think I am liking my Gypsy. I used From My Kitchen cartridge to make this 6"x6" recipe card.
The pattern paper is very old so I have no idea who made it. The cardstock is Close to My Heart. I stippled the background cardstock with matching CTMH ink. Fun, fun, fun!!!

Recipe Card Using Gypsy and Cricut

2010-03-18T06:12:00.000-07:00

Love this 6"x6" recipe card that I made last night using my Gypsy. So... as much as I have complained about the Cricut and Gypsy, every once in a while I use it and really enjoy it. LOL
I used Hello Kitty Font 0.8 inch to cut Tiff"'s and Gypsy font 1.0 that I welded to cut Chicken.
I am really a perfectionist and have always loved the precision cuts of Quickuts and Accucut so the Cricut has made me a little nutso when I cut something and have to recut it because the blade didn't go all the way through the cardstock, or it rips the cardstock, or it won't cut 1/2" size like it should.
But lately it seems I am getting the hang of both the Gypsy and Cricut.
The Gypsy is really, really nice for the six heritage books I am making and the six sets of recipe cards for family. The recipes aren't fancy, they are old recipes that I made healthier last year while I was under a physician's care for weight loss.
The cute pattern paper is made by Reminisce and I love, love, love it!! I almost think I could do the entire recipe collection with just this paper but have decided I really need to change it up so I don't get bored, which is very easy for me to do.
Since I am printing the recipes to save space on the card, I am handwriting special notes on the back of the cards. Things like, you can substitute beef tips in this recipe, or something memorable about the recipe that family would enjoy.
I bought some wooden Memory Photo Boxes several years ago from Provocraft that we are painting to match our kitchen and adding chipboard embellishments to hold the recipes. I have about 30 basic recipes that we rotate monthly. It really helps with the "what's for dinner tonight", just look at the calender. Also saves money since groceries are bought with a list. We eat lean ground turkey breast twice a week, chicken two or three times a week, 96/4 lean ground beef once a week, fish/shrimp once a week and then we might have a ham, or meatless meal.
Stay tuned for more recipes...

RECIPE CARDS

2010-03-17T11:39:00.001-07:00

I made this 6"x6" recipe card using my Gypsy and Cricut. I used From My Kitched for the pot, cut at 5 inches using scrap green and brown cardstock. I welded Plantin Schoolbook font to spell TURKEY and cut at 0.8 inches. And CHILI was cut from Hello Kitty Font at 1 inch. The pattern paper is made by Creative Imaginations.

Making Cricut Dust Covers

2010-03-16T12:29:00.001-07:00

I have made 24 Cricut Dust Covers so far!!

I have always had a passion for sewing, which explains the reason I started stitching on all of my scrapbook layouts years ago that I make for myself and while scrapbooking for others. But my sewing passion has turned into an obsession for making Cricut Covers. I keep seeing the cutest fabric and I really couldn't resist this adorble lady bug fabric. This Cricut dust cover is for the "Baby Bug", but I bought extra fabric to make one for the Expression also.

You can bid on this Cricut cover on Ebay or buy it now for $16 with free shipping.

EBAY LINK

Quilted Fabric Cricut Cover

2010-03-14T17:07:00.000-07:00

My fun fur Cricut Dust Cover is my favorite, but this could be my second favorite I think. The fabric is machine quilted, purchased that way off the bolt. It looks classy and elegant. Because the fabric is expensive, I had to list it for much more than what the regular fabric covers cost. I have it listed on Ebay and hope it sells.

EBAY

Dust Covers to fit Cricut Expression Create and Baby Bug

2010-03-14T15:48:00.000-07:00

I have been so busy sewing dust covers to fit Cricut machines, I have been ignoring my Gypsy and Cricut. This weekend I borrowed my friends Cricut Baby Bug so I could make a pattern to fit it and then realized the ends of the Create machine look wider so now I need to try the Baby Bug cover on a Create machine to make sure it will fit. My very nice friend has offered to let me use her Create to make a good fitting pattern. I think I might just make her a cover for her kindness. Her are a few more examples of the covers I have made...19 so far!

MORE DUST COVERS FOR CRICUT EXPRESSIONS

2010-02-28T15:03:00.000-08:00

DUST COVERS FIT CRICUT EXPRESSIONS MACHINE.

Love the colors of these two Cricut dust covers. I have them listed on Ebay for sale buy it now $15 with free shipping.
SOLD

Dustcover for Cricut Black Pink White 3 Piece Set

2010-02-26T19:43:00.000-08:00

I am having so much fun making these dust covers for the Cricut Expression. I am selling them on Etsy and Ebay.

This is a 3 piece set: Dust Cover, Drawstring bag for cords, and a pillow case for storing your 12"x12" cutting mats. I love the mat case, it keeps all of my mats together, and when I take the clear piece off the sticky area of the mat, the case is perfect to keep it cleaner than just laying it on the table.

Soon I will make a few for the Baby Bug but need to be sure of the size so will need to borrow a Baby Bug to make the pattern to fit properly.

DUSTCOVER FOR CRICUT EXPRESSIONS

2010-02-25T08:47:00.001-08:00

Custom Dustcover for Cricut Expressions machine. What a pleasure to work with this customer. I also made a cutting mat case (think pillow case style) will add photos later.

I love the colors in this fabric and luckily the fabric store had three fabrics from the same line to match.

I have always had issues with stores that don't carry the full line or atleast three patterns from the line. Even when I scrapbook, I love to use three or more patterns of paper when I can get it.

DUST COVER FOR CRICUT EXPRESSION

2010-02-25T08:17:00.001-08:00

Dust Cover for Cricut Expressions for sale on Ebay:

CLICK HERE TO SEE

The flowered fabric is made by Heidi Grace. I lined the dust cover with white prequilted fabric and also made the white half circle pocket with the same prequilted fabric. The pocket would be perfect to hold a package of extra blades or your deep cut housing. I also made a drawstring bag to hold the Cricut cords when not in use. And a flat cutting mat bag with the Heidi Grace fabric (it looks like a pillow case).

DUST COVER for CRICUT EXPRESSIONS 3 PIECE SET

2010-02-17T10:28:00.000-08:00

Dustcover for Cricut Expressions, 3 piece set on Ebay for sale. To go directly to the auction just click here: MY EBAY AUCTION

Do you like the 3 piece set? I added not only a drawstring bag for cord storage but how about a flat bag for your cutting mats!?

The bag reminds me of a pillow case, there are no closures just slide your 12"x12" cutting mats into it. The bag is 14"x15". I like to use multiple cutting mats for different color cardstock, saves me time and paper so this bag keeps them stored together.

I lined the Expressions DUST COVER and DRAWSTRING BAG with white muslin so the raw edges of the fur fabric don't ravel. I used a double seam for the CUTTING MAT BAG so the raw edges of the fabric are encased within the second seam.

CRICUT EXPRESSIONS DUST COVER / DUSTCOVER

2010-02-10T11:09:00.001-08:00

Cricut Expressions Dust Cover for sale in my Etsy Shop. I also made a little drawstring bag for storing your machine cords. I am having so much fun making these. I will be offering a 3 piece set next...the third piece is a surprise! Check back in a couple of days for pictures.

CRICUT SWARM FLORIDA

2010-02-03T11:13:00.000-08:00

If you are looking for a Cricut Swarm in Florida, as of today there are still 5 spaces available for the upcoming Punta Gorda, Swarm, "Hop To It". Here is the link on the Cricut messageboard with all the information, or leave me a comment on this post with a way to reach you and I will have Betty get back with you.

http://www.cricut.com/messageboard/tm.aspx?m=5294132

Betty Bee's Swarm Monkeying Around

2010-01-31T12:32:00.000-08:00

Betty Bee Brett sure knows how to host a Cricut Swarm!! I had a blast this weekend at the "Monkeying Around" swarm in Punta Gorda Florida. I used my Gypsy and Cricut and made a few titles for a heritage book and recipe books I am making. I hope I get the hang of the Gypsy soon. I was able to cut welded words that were only 1/2" tall so that is a big improvement!
The photo is of the decorations I made for Betty. I also made her a Cricut dust cover in pink and black fur just like mine too. I also made a bag for her Cricut cord and a storage bag for her Cricut mats to carry to crops all out of pink and black fur! LOL She is such a good sport putting up with all my pink madness!!
I am ready to "Hop to It" in February and I really need to think GREEN...wonder if I can find pink and green fur??? Just kidding!!
I can't wait to try out the new technique that Betty taught. She made etching on glass look pretty stinkin' simple, I actually etched my initial on a glass bottle after her superb instructions. Must go buy some etching stuff...then look out glass in my house!

BLACK & WHITE POLKA DOT CRICUT COVER

2009-12-23T19:08:00.000-08:00

I added a pocket and bow to Tiff's cover .

MY PINK CRICUT COVER

2009-12-23T18:59:00.000-08:00

I love the Cricut dust covers that I made today for my daughter and I. Mine has two of my favorite things, pink and fur. I made the black and white polka dot Cricut cover for my daughter, but I think I am going to dress it up a bit with a big bow and a ruffly flap thingy maybe. I want to ask her opinion first, she may like it just like it is.

I can't believe I did this today in the midst of all the Christmas craziness. I think sewing actually calmed me down. I am going to check into making Cricut covers to sell on Etsy. But it depends on my cost to make and time and whether this is something that would sell.

WIN A GYPSY

2009-11-29T17:49:00.001-08:00

Would you like to try to win a Gypsy? If so go to The Gypsy Spot and enter the contest for a drawing on December 1, 2009. Custom Crops was so generous and donated this Gypsy to be given away. The Gypsy Spot is a fun challenge blog. Good luck to everyone! Check out The Gypsy Spots blinkie on my sidebar!

PREMADE DOUBLE PAGE LAYOUT MADE WITH GYPSY AND CRICUT

2009-11-19T18:15:00.001-08:00

I have used this layout design alot when I make my premade scrapbook pages I sell with my Accucut dies so I made a similar layout on my Gypsy using Gypsy Wanderings and Storybook cartridge font. I love patterned paper and love to use three or four patterns together. I like this layout because just about any size photo and number looks great on it. These 6 mats are for 3"x5" photos. It is alot of fun designing 12"x24" layouts on the Gypsy. I can actually see what the layout will look like before cutting the paper. I definately have more premade scrapbook pages designed than I have time to cut. I did a little bit of machine stitching on this layout, much less than what I usually do. And I used leaf shaped buttons and red rhinestones.

GYPSY 2 PAGE HALLOWEEN LAYOUT MADE WITH GYPSY AND CRICUT

2009-11-14T15:33:00.000-08:00

This was a very easy and fun layout to make with the Gypsy and my pink Cricut Expression. I designed it a few nights ago on my Gypsy and cut it out and assembled in less than an hour! Woo Hoo!

I used Gypsy Wanderings for the green zig zag frame around the outer edge of the purple paper and the title box and the jack-o-lanterns. I used Gypsy Font for the numbers and Plantin Schoolbook Cartridge font to spell halloween.

I welded two zig zag frames together to make the green frame. The aspect ratio button was off so I could make them the height and width I wanted (not proportional). If you don't know what the aspect ratio button is...look for the gold chain between the words height and width and tap it to make it white. Now you can make any size you would like and weld the two together to cover the entire 2 page layout. Also did the same thing for the title box to make the green area.

I love to machine stitch on layouts so I stitched a little around the pattern paper and the title frame. The photos are matted in black cardstock. And added three different ribbon bows to the cute layered pumpkins.

Provo Craft GYPSY

2009-11-09T08:11:00.001-08:00

I am 99.9% sure that I am keeping my Gypsy by Provo Craft from HSN. I purchased from HSN so I could return the Gypsy should I not want to keep it and also because it was a great deal with all the extra Reward Points (500+200+90) and goodies oh and don't forget the 3 year warranty.
As of Friday night, I was still a little apprehensive and didn't really know very much about using the Gypsy. I took my Gypsy to my crop and it seemed only a few were the least bit interested in it even though they all have Cricuts and only one cropper said she had thought about buying it and seemed to enjoy the possibilities available with it.
But since Friday night, I have discovered more and more that I really like about my Gypsy! And I can only imagine that PC will continue to improve and add more possibilities to it.
I couldn't sleep last night, so I brought it to bed and worked on a Heritage Layout design that is going to be easy and look great. I didn't even disturb dh sleeping, the Gypsy is quiet, I only need the light from the Gypsy on and the battery lasted 4 hours! And the best part...I am making 6 of these Heritage books for siblings/family and I can cut the pages lickety split and put them together as fast as I can with an awesome welded and shadowed title.
There are soooo many features that I have discovered that I really really love. But I can see why some scrappers may not want it; not everyone has almost $300 to play with these days (HSN has flex pay...so cool), there is definately alot to learn that isn't in the online owner's manual or videos (yet) so if you don't have some computer/gaming skills it would be difficult I think to figure it all out and there are so many who are afraid to buy the first year of anything new that comes out...well not me, I am only going to live on this earth once and if I wait for a newer, better model, that day may not come and look at all the fun and fellowship I would have missed out on!

HAPPY GYPSY DANCE

2009-11-04T08:20:00.000-08:00

I am doing the Happy Gypsy Dance this morning!! woo hooo!!

I can't believe I finally have my Gypsy! I played with her last night and designed a very simple layout that I will post later today. I have to finish up some work (scrapbooking for others) before I can play anymore today. :-(

Also need to go shopping to purchase her new Pink Attire...more later on that!

HALLOWEEN ATC

2009-10-27T09:50:00.000-07:00

I made the cute little pumpkin by tearing handmade paper into the pumpkin shape and the face was cut with a Sizzix die using black cardstock.

For the background card I used Sizzix Texturz Embossing Plates with Close to My Heart white core black cardstock. I sanded the embossed areas for the white core to show through and then I used Close to My Heart Ink to color the white core to orange.

TEAR BEAR ATC

2009-10-27T09:45:00.000-07:00

This of course is one of my favorite ATC...between the pink color and the tear bears, two of my favorite things.

I used Don Juan cartridge for the font BFF...Best Friends Forever. This ATC is a tiny scrapbook that opens and will hold 6 wallet size photos.

I made the tear bear using white handmade paper.

FLOWER ATC MADE WITH CRICUT

2009-10-27T09:38:00.000-07:00

Flower ATC made with Cricut Expression using Accent Essentials cartridge. The cardstock and ink is made by Close to My Heart. The plaid design on the flower is embossed.

NEW GYPSY WEBSITE

2009-10-21T08:50:00.000-07:00

There is a new GYPSY website starting that I wanted to share with my blog readers. The blog is called The Gypsy Spot and the link is http://the-gypsyspot.blogspot.com/ . I can't wait to see what the designers do with the Gypsy. And I can't wait for my Gypsy to arrive in November...

ATC ARTIST TRADING CARDS

2009-10-18T18:17:00.000-07:00

This is my attempt to use watercolor pencils. I stamped the image with a Close to My Heart stamp and brown Stayz-on ink on watercolor paper. Very fun to do!

MY FIRST CRICUT SWARM PROJECT

2009-10-16T12:27:00.001-07:00

Inspiration Cafe is having their second Cricut SWARM tomorrow, October 17, 2009. I am so excited as I didn't attend our last Swarm...I didn't even own a Cricut at that time. LOL But I think you can say that the "BUG" has bitten me and I am so thankful for my daugher and the girls at the Cafe that I have been scrapping with who encouraged me to try using the Cricut. After having the Cricut only since August, I have already ordered the Gypsy and anxiously await her arrival from HSN sometimes in November.

At the Swarm we will be making an adorable card using the Paper Doll Dress Up Cricut cartridge under the guidance of Daria. She has had her Cricut for a very long time and really knows the ins and outs of it and will have lots of tips for us.

Also I will have directions available for making this two page layout for anyone who would like to bring their own paper and cardstock to make it. I scraplifted the left side of this layout from a Bo Bunny sketch that is an advertisement in November 2009 Creating Keepsake magazine. My friend Carole loved the layout in the magazine so I decided to make that my project to share at the Swarm. Even though I didn't have the Bo Bunny Gypsy collection that was in the magazine, I did have Bo Bunny Tangerine Hibiscus/Stripe and Tangerine Beadboard paper and I am happy with the results.

The flower is made by Heidi Swapp and I inked it with Close to My Heart ink to make it match the Bo Bunny paper. Everything else on the layout was made using the Cricut with Accent Essentials and Plantin Schoolbook cartridges. Oh, and I designed the right side of the layout using the left over pattern paper and cardstock. The right page can be turned either direction for a horizontal or vertical 5"x7" photo.

And since I am such a newbie with the Cricut, I kept the layout simple...Fit to Page and Fit to Length are the only functions I used....I think...LOL

DESTINATIONS CARTRIDGE CRICUT

2009-10-15T20:07:00.000-07:00

Finally, a peak at the Cricut Destinations cartridge. Pretty stinkin' cool if you ask me!
There are photos of all nine new release Cricut cartridges on the Cricut website.

There are screenshots on Just A Scrappin's blog of the Destination's cartridge.

PINK JOURNEY CRICUT CARTRIDGE GIVEAWAY

2009-10-15T08:08:00.000-07:00

Cutting Above blog is giving away a Pink Journey Cricut cartridge. It is easy to enter, just add their blinkie to your blog and leave a comment on the blog.
While you are on the Cutting Above blog, make sure to check out the three new videos on cutting magnets using the Gypsy. She makes it look so easy. I hope I can use my Gypsy that smoothly when I get it. Also shows how to cut with the 6" bug.
Click here to go to the post: CLICK

ARTIST TRADING CARDS ATC's

2009-10-12T12:55:00.000-07:00

I am in an Artist Trading Card ATC swap with some ladies I scrapbook with. We are supposed to make an ATC every month to trade, but I am a few months behind. Here are two ATC's that I made this weekend. The green ATC was very simple to make. I just embossed in gold with a Christmas stamp then added a tiny red ribbon.
The tear bear ATC was alot of fun to make. I love making tear bears and all of my ATC's last year were tear bears. The patterned paper is made by Piggy Tales and was scraps from a layout that I made. I cut the flower from the paper.
Sometimes I think instead of calling what I do ATC they should be CTC...Craft Trading Cards. I don't consider myself an artist, I am a crafter.

GYPSY VIDEOS WELDING AND MORE

2009-10-11T16:38:00.000-07:00

Excellent Cricut Gypsy videos on the blog Crafting the Night Away. While cruising the Cricut message board, I came across a thread talking about how good the Gyspy videos are on Crafting the Night Away's blog. I have to agree! I watched all of them and she explains everything in such a calm, methodical way that I can really understand what she is talking about. The quality of the videos are excellent. I hope Alicia makes more of the Gypsy videos. There are several other sites listed in my sidebar that also have excellent videos about the Cricut and Gypsy. Just click on the little blinkies and you will be taken to those sites.

I am really starting to get excited about my Cricut Gypsy arriving from HSN. After watching her videos, I think I am starting to get it! LOL

GYPSY with DESTINATIONS CARTRIDGE

2009-10-10T08:25:00.000-07:00

Just last night at the crop I said, I really don't think I want the Gypsy as I do most of my scrapbooking at home. And then after the crop, while looking at a new scrapbook magazine, I thought, you know if I had the Gypsy I could use my Accent Essentials cartridge and make that 12 inch border like on that layout. And my creative side just took over !

Well guess what, I just ordered the Gypsy from HSN. I think what finally made me order the Gypsy was the new Destinations cartridge. I have only seen the box but can imagine it has all sorts of travel goodies on it and DD#1 "needs" this cartridge...she just doesn't know it yet.

The Gyspy from HSN is now coming with a Destinations cartridge instead of Don Juan. I will give the cartridge to DD#1 as she is the traveler in the family and scrapbooks all of her trips. I used a new customer coupon for 15% off, free shipping, and 4 flex plan payments. Plus I went through ebates.com and will get another 6% back in a rebate. Pretty sweet deal if you ask me! The only drawback is it won't ship until November 12. But that will give me a chance to play with DD#1's when she is here in a couple of weeks. I can't wait for her visit! Not just to play with her Gyspsy though! LOL

For any readers who may not know what a Gyspy is...click here GYPSY.

PINK JOURNEY CRICUT CARTRIDGE PROVO CRAFT

2009-10-08T20:59:00.000-07:00

Do you want a chance to win a Pink Journey Cricut Cartridge? Head on over to the The Pink Stamper's blog and leave a comment ...click here to be taken there to enter.

HERITAGE LAYOUT FLOWERS ACCENT ESSENTIALS

2009-10-08T08:40:00.000-07:00

Heritage layout flowers cut with Cricut Accent Essentials cartridge.

I knew when I purchased my Pink Cricut Expression in August that I would be using it alot for the heritage albums that I am making. It is so much easier to cut multiples as I am making books for myself and siblings.

I made these flowers using the Cricut Essentials cartridge that came with my Expression. You can see them on page 63 of the handbook.

I made the flowers in 3 different sizes with the second layer being 1/4" larger. I used Close to My Heart black ink on the edges using a sponge and lightly sponged over each flower to just dull the color a little to match the look of the patterned paper. The stamp is an old wood mount and I have no idea who makes it or where I purchased it. I heat embossed the plaid stamped area with black embossing powder. Then I hand stitched the buttons on.

I am looking forward to exploring the Accent Essentials cartridge for more heritage layout embellishments.

Blinkie Patrol at Cutting Above

2009-10-05T08:27:00.000-07:00

Would you like to win a fabulous scrappy prize? Cutting Above blog has a blinkie patrol and will be giving away monthly prizes. If you don't already know about the Cutting Above blog, go there now and check out all the great videos and posts. The direct link to the post about the blinkie patrol is here: just CLICK anywhere on the pink words to be directed to the blog.

Just remember to come back here to my blog and check out all of the other blinkies on my side bar. Each blog has something awesome to offer Cricut lovers and papercrafters!

Feel free to leave me a comment, I would love to hear from anyone who visits my blog. Or sign up to be a follower of my blog and be notified of new posts.

My Pink Cricut Blog

2009-10-04T10:15:00.000-07:00

I always said if Provo Craft came out with a Pink Cricut I would buy one! Guess what...that is what I did recently. Seriously, I got the Cricut because it is pink but love it because the Cricut is so much fun! And to make my Pink Cricut even more special, dd#1 bought one also. Actually, she bought both of them and then shipped mine to me as my local Michael's didn't have one. She also has the Gypsy and loves it! I don't have a Gypsy yet, I want to play with her's first and make sure it is something I will use.
Then to add to all the fun, Provo Craft had a promotion with our Pink Cricut Expression that gave $50 to Breast Cancer Research for each Cricut purchased and get this...they also had a 4 Your School Promotion going on where the first 200 or 2000, I can't remember which, who bought the Cricut before August 31, 2009 could get a Cricut donated to their favorite school. I just received the email Friday that a Cricut is on it's way to my granddaughter's preschool that she attended last year and my daughter received an email saying there was a Cricut on it's way to her current school where she attends kindergarten. How cool is that!!