I have been awarded: Stylish Blogger Award

Thank you so much Tina:  The Crippled Cricut for awarding this to me.

This is a pay-it-forward style award. Here are the rules:


1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this  (Check)

2. Share 8 things about yourself

1. I am a Cricut junkie.
2. I work for a non profit finding people with disabilities employment.
3. I have a Master's Degree
4. I am currently enrolled in a Medical Billing and Coding Program
5. I am currently enrolled in an Employment Specialist Program (yes two different programs)
6. I raise AKC Pugs.
7. I always have to be busy.
8. I spend way to much time looking for insiration to create.

3. Pay it forward to 8 bloggers that you have recently discovered  (there are many more too)

1. http://craftily-ever-after.blogspot.com/
2. http://www.bystephanielynn.com/
3. http://debbiesdesignsblog.blogspot.com/
4. http://paperpleasing.typepad.com/
5. http://inkingidaho.blogspot.coom/
6. http://tammytutterow.typepad.com/
7. http://www.stampinpretty.com/
8. http://nonnasscraps.blogspot.com/

4. Contact those bloggers and tell them about their awards. (Done)

PAPER ZONE Challenge

Paper Zone is having a challenge on their blog for Christmas.  The winner will get a gift certificate to their store.  I love  Paper Zone.  It is more expensive than the Joann's orMichaels, but they always have such great ideas and different in paper that I don't find in the other stores.  Here is the Challenge:

  You must feature 1 of the 2 Stardream papers (in either Mars or Emerald) PLUS two of the other Secret Ingredients. The Secret Ingredients for this challenge are:
Stardream Paper in Mars (text or cover) I used this

Stardream Paper in Emerald (text or cover)

Jovial Office Tabs by Basic Grey I used this

Jovial Poinsettia Doilies by Basic Grey

Noel Christmas Collage 12 x 12 paper by Making Memories I used this

Noel Glitter Gem Buckles by Making Memories I used this

And here is what I submitted:

This is my Paper Zone challenge Entry

I used My CI and cut the box at fit to page from Bags, Tags, Boxes and More.  This box cuts slits on the side of the boxes.  That is where I threaded the ribbon thru.  This holds the boxes together.
Then I Used Winterwonderland on shadow to cut the J and the Y  (I cut at 1.5 rel size)
The squares on the box were the rounded square on the CI cut at 2.5 rel size.
I used the Noel Collage paper to made the medallions (those are 1 sheet cut at 1", used the Scor-Pal to score the medallions. 
The round circles are cut at 1".  I used the Tags (one of the items)  one as the saying on top of the middle box and the other I cut to form the snowflake in the middle of the O.
TheO is from the Buckel...one of the challenge items. 
I thought it came out really cute.  Please leave a comment I would love to hear from you.

Blog Hop Winner

I used Random to select the winner.  Congrats to Jenn.  I have sent you an email.

Cricut Imagine: The Stockings Were Hung

"The Stocking's were hung by the Chimney with care..."

I first saw this idea on Tethered 2 Home website on the Nov. 10, 2010 post.  I liked it and followed the path to see how the card was made, but the template for $4.  Now I will pay for templates but for this $4 was more than I was willing to spend.  Upon careful examination of the card I decided I could make it on my Cricut Imagine .

Carts used:  CI Snow Angel, CI Lori's Garden, CI Imagine More, REG Cart Going Places. CI rounded square shape, Wild Cards.

Directions:
Fireplace:  Wild Cards Box on Shadow feature so that there is no cut out>fill to fit>filled in with pattern from Lori's Garden as it looked like bricks.  Then you are going to use an XACTO knife and cut out the opening your want for your fireplace.  (if you have this shape your could weld it and do it on the G).  Then you will take a piece of black paper and cover the back flap so you have a fireplace.  Fold box and assemble.  I use a scor-pal to score the line, it helps in folding the box.

Wall:  I used the rounded square shape on the CI filled in with a pattern from Imagine More.  It matched the fireplace in color.  Cut t 4.6 rel size.  The adhere to the back of the fireplace so that 2 1/4" stick up to form the wall.

Garland:  Using the Imagine More Cart you will see some boarder looking icons,  I used the first one and did it in layers.  I wanted it to look like garland.  Cut at 1" and fill to fit.  This will give you a tad more than what you need when you adhere it to the fireplace front just trim to fit.

Wreath: Using Imagine More:  I took the Icon with the armadillo on it and put it in layers.  I deleted all the layers but the first one.  I filled it with a Green from the Imagine more Cart and cut it at 2".  I cut two.  I glued the first one to the wall then used foam tape and  put the top piece to give it dimension.  I had some colored sticker balls that I put on the wreath to look like Christmas balls and I used a scrap piece of ribbon in red to give the wreath a bow.

Stocking:  Using Snow Angel, I used the 3 stockings on that cart just like they are cut at rel size 2.  I glued them to the garland on the fireplace and used some little silver dots on the stockings to look like they are nailed to the garland.

Fire:  This is from Going Places. (I used the Gypsy to find this)  it s the camp fire.  I used the shadow feature and cut at 2" using an orange pattern from the Imagine More Cart.  Then cut it regular filling it with the same orange that I used for the wall.  Since this cuts in two pieces, one for the flame and one for the firewood, I just used the flame. 

Please leave me a comment and tell me what you think.  Hope this sparks your creativity and gets your thinking about using your carts in different ways  Linda

This weeks Challenge #9: BLACK FRIDAY Challenge

This week's Weekly Challenge #9 is the Black Friday Challenge!  I had just the project in mind.

Alright . . . so who’s out shopping this morning?! Me? I have never been brave enough to face the Black Friday crowds. However, we thought it would be fun to give our Weekly Challenge a “Black Friday” twist! Here’s what we want you to do this week . . . Include the color black in your project AND recycle or re- purpose something.

From the Dollar Tree, it held Cotton Swabs and cotton balls

I started with this plastic container that once help cotton swabs and cotton balls.  It came from the Dollar Tree awhile back.

Bloom Cartridge, scrap of black punched out with SU scalloped punch and a piece of scrap black/white ribbon.

I used my CI and the Bloom Cart to do the print.  I used No over spray, and made a 12 x12 piece of paper.
I had some black paper scraps which I punched with my Stampin Up scalloped punch and this piece of left over ribbon.

A new tool caddy

With a little double stick tape, I adhered the paper to the caddy, trimmed it with the black and the ribbon.  Then I cut the scallop from the basic shapes on the CI, the middle circle from shapes on the CI and since the background pattern paper had birds sprinkled here and there, I found this cute little bird on a regular cricut cart called Winter Woodland.  I used my CI and Bloom cart to do the bird in layers and added a rhinestone for the bird's eye.  Here is the close up of that: 


Close up of bird from Winter Woodland Cart.

Be sure to leave a comment.  Enjoy

CRICUTDEMOWA: 1st Ever Blog HOP

Welcome to our Imagine blog hop!  We have 12 blogs participating today, and you're sure to find some fun ideas for using your Cricut Imagine.  If you've come here from Tina's blog you're on the right track.  If you're just starting out, you can continue on from here and hop around in a circle until you arrive right back here!  When you're done here, hop along to Angela's blog and see what see has created for us.  Don't forget to leave a comment  so you can be entered into the drawing for my BLOG Candy!!!!

SNOW ANGEL CI CART






SnowFlake Box and Tag

 

   

This first picutre is a 2"x2" box and tag.  This second picture is a card I made with the CI and a reg. Cricut Cart. And the last pic is an easle card.

I used the feature on the CI that allows you to print 12/x 12 background paper.    

For the BOX:  You will need to make a box.  To do this measure a piece of card stock 2" x 8 1/2".  I use a scor-pal to score all my projects.  Score at 2", 4", 6", 8" this will give you a 1/2" that will be the tab.

Form your box.  I only use scor-tape to secure my projects like this.  I cannot say enough good things about this type.  Put the scor-tape on the tab finish your box.  I then used the shape feature on my CI I chose the square with the rounded corner and filled it with the blue snowflake paper option on this cart.  cut 4.  Choose a snow flake on this cart cut at 1.5  choose layer.  You will need 4.  Once your snowflakes are assembled I used stick on pearls to finish it.

The Tag  is a 2" x 4" piec of paper folded in half using the scor-pal.  Again add a snowflake from this cart done in layers.  Size needed for snowflake is 1.5.

Cute winter card

CARD:  You will need a 4" x 12" piece of  background paper. Folded in half to make your card 4" x 6" I then took 3 pieces of white card stock 4" x 3 1/2" and used an EK Sucess Punk to make the Snow Hills.  You can use any Christmas Tree from your collection cut 3 trees at 3".  This card was for a challenge so it has a bird but you can add your sentiment.  I put some embellishment snowflakes ove some very faint snowflakes on the paper.  I used a faux stitching down the side.





EASLE CARD  

Before you leave this blog, be sure to leave me a comment.  If you do you will be eligibe for the following BLOG CANDY:    WINTER LACE   

Now, don't forget to head over to Angela's blog next!"

For the Nov Card Project: This is what I am sending Chris Dodge

Chris has been an incredible resource on the CRICUTDEMOWA Cricut Imagine Board on the Yahoo Group.  Having him on the board is like a direct pipeline to PC.  Chris has helped so many of us get our machine up and running, thru firmware updates, non stick mats, etc.  So here is what I am sending him:

Here is a Hersey Nugget Box I made using the Lori's Garden Cart.  I made the paper for the box using that feature on the CI.

Here is what is inside.  I make the paper double sided with the print on oneside and the orange on the other.  LOVE That.  The paper is the smooth Bazzil from HSN.

What do you think?  Please leave me comments.  Thanks.  Linda

Lori's Garden Thank you

Here is the banner I made to thank the software engineers at Provo Craft for all the hard work they have done to get the CI up and working and now with MAC capacity.

Here is the box I made to hold the banner.

This is done in layers and seperates the Thank from the YOU

Top of banner note how I added the ribbon.

The full banner

upclose.  I alternated the background paper.

The cart is just beautiful with soft colors and folds accordian style into the box.

Week 7 Cricut Circle Weekly Challenge:

This weeks Challenge

Weekly Challenge #7: Thank You Color Challenge
Cultivating an attitude of gratitude is a great way to enrich our daily lives. This week we would like you to create a THANK YOU card  using a minimum of 2 different Cricut Cuts and the color inspiration provided below.  Magenta, Apricot, Deep Olive, and Golden Yellow.

Cartidges used:  Cricut Imagine Imagine More, Gypsy Wanderings, Designer Calendar.
Cased From:  Template (This is where you will see the project as well as box instructions)
What I did:  Using the CI Imagine More, use basic shape for scalloped circle cut at 6" (cut 2).  I filled with the orange checked patten.  Use Gypsy Wanderings  Leaves from your Gypsy cut at 2".  Use Designer Calender in your CI under words you will see Give Thanks.  Cut at 1 1/2" fill with Magenta.
I used my Big Shot and various folders to give texture to all paper items except the words.
I used a brown Copic Marker to edge the words.
Ribbon is from Stampin Up and some twine I have had for years.
The flower is the Carnation from Cuttlebug quilled flower set.I cut three of the long strips, two of the middle smaller petals and three of the outer petals.  I found if you glue the staight strips to make a long strip, take the two small petals and put them on top of each other off set them and glue to form one strip, and with the three larger petals, glue them as one strip off setting (put them on top of each other), when you quill them they work and don't form the triange look or look not totally filled in.
Paper:  Bazzill and Memory Maker.
Provo Craft Products:  Cricut Imagine, Cricut Imagine More Cartridge,Regular Cricut Cartridge: Designer's Calendar, Gypsy and Gypsy Wandertings, Cuttlebug folders, Cuttlebug Carnation Quilling set.

http://debbiesdesignsblog.blogspot.com/2010/09/3d-pumpkin-goodie-box-tutorial.html