Lyrical Letters and Christmas

I created these cards using the Lacy Christmas tree that is on the Lyrical Letters Cricut Cartridge. I've wanted to use this shape since I got the cartridge during the summer, but wasn't quite sure how I wanted to do them. I just started cutting shapes and came up with several different cards using the tree shape. Here are a few...

This one I cut the tree from medium green cardstock, and cut by hand, the background (this shape does not have a black out feature on the cartridge). I cut the red frame using Accent Essentials and embossed it in the Cuttlebug, using the Swiss Dots embossing folder. Background paper is from the 2008 DCWV Christmas Stack.

This one is a bit simpler, using two different sized tree shapes, cut from red and green cardstock. The border was created using EK Success Slim Line Border punch, background paper is Coredinations paper from the Chocolate Box collection, embossed with Sizzix embossing folder.

Another version using the lacy tree, this one I used Design Studio to weld the tree shape to the marquee shape frame, cut another marquee shape from the DCWV Christmas glitter paper, and the card was also created using the Marquee shape. I added a little bling and stickles to brighten it up.

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you enjoyed your visit and please leave a comment if you are so inclined!

Koala-t hugs,

Cathy

Using A Child's Year for Christmas Cards

I recently was able to get the cartridge A Child's Year for a great price. It has lots of great shapes and even a font on it. I was in the mood for Christmas cards recently and created these and a few more.

Anything with Santa and children is perfect for Christmas...and together they make a great card! I used DCWV Christmas stack from 2008 for the background paper, EK Success border punch, a few bling in the upper corner and Stickles for the gift.

This is another great shape. I created the shaped card using Accent Essentials Cartridge for the Marquee shape, welded together to make the card. Used QuickKutz embossing folder for the background, DCWV Christmas stack from 2008 and Spica Glitter pen for the star and ribbon.

I had fun making these cards and can't wait to make more!

Thanks for stopping by!

Koala-t hugs,

Cathy

Another Chance to Win a Gypsy!

The excitement has been building and has reached a fever pitch! Tonight the Gypsy will be premiered on HSN and another site is giving one away!

Go to Cricut Cartridges Helper and follow the directions to get a chance (or in some cases SEVERAL chances) to win!

Give it a try, you just might win!

Sometimes Mistakes work out

Sunday, I decided to make a few cards. I've been wanting to try out the lacy tree shape on the Lyrical Letters cartridge since I got it. Well, it was summer when I first saw the shape and not in the mood for Christmas cards, so I finally got around to trying it out this past weekend. I wanted to make a design with the tree and a frame shape using Design Studio. I put the two shapes together, welded them and did a preview. I guess I didn't look at it close enough, and didn't notice it didn't cut the frame shape on the inside and the outside of the tree. I looked at the cut out shape, and at first thought, ooops, I goofed. Then, after looking at it again, I realized I could probably use it. So, here is the card I made using the "Ooops" shape....it came out pretty good!

I used Christmas print paper from American Crafts, red glitter paper from DCWV and used the Martha Stewart border punch and a few scattered "bling" on the tree.

Thanks for stopping by. I have more fun stuff to show in the coming days. Several cards and the projects I completed in a paper flower class I attended!

Have a great day!

Koala-t hugs,

Cathy

I got the MUSIC word book

I am enjoying creating word books with my Cricut and Design Studio software. I think maybe they are a bit simple, and am working on some more detailed books.

Here is one I completed for the craft fair. It measures 8" high x 12" wide. I made it basic black and white with red accents. I used the following cartridges: George, Winnie the Pooh Font, and Joy of the Season for the musical notes. I also used Sizzix Sizzlets for corners and border punches for some of the photo mats. It might be difficult to see, but the white letters for the book were all embossed using the Swiss Dots and the Cuttlebug.

I hope you enjoyed today's post. I will be back with more of my work. I thank you for visiting and especially when you leave comments!

Koala-t hugs,

Cathy

Gypsy on HSN....Its ALMOST HERE!

The BUZZ is getting louder and the excitement continues to build! Only a few more days before HSN (Home Shopping Network) premiers the GYPSY! I, for one, am very excited about this new and innovative product from Provo Craft! So, be sure to tune in to HSN at MIDNIGHT, September 24 to watch the Gypsy in action!

Don't know what to do until then to pass the time? Check out a brand new blog - Cutting Above! Its a great place to learn about all things CRICUT! Check 'em out

http://cuttingabove.blogspot.com

and find out how you can win a Gypsy!

Is it the 24th yet?? I can't wait!

Koala-t hugs,

Cathy

Decorative edge Photo Book

Happy Saturday Everyone! Hope you are enjoying

your weekend where ever you may be! I'm just

finishing up things for my mom's birthday

celebration later today and thought I'd post

another project.

This was a project I started some time ago, but just recently finished. I had seen a project on line that inspired me to do this book. I realized it was a precut chipboard blank book that

was sold, and I liked it so much, I designed this in Design Studio. It has graduated size pages

each one with a different design on the edge. It can be used/displayed either portrait (as

shown in the photos) or landscape. I created the photo mats to accommodate photos either way.The pages were cut from a layer of Chipboard and two layers of cardstock.

The frame on the front was also cut from chipboard and cardstock.

I used George as all the pages were created using basic shapes. Some of the photo mats were

created in Design studio using basic shapes. I also used border punches for some of the

photo mats. The binding is Bind It All.

The paper is Bazzill and Core'dinations.

Flowers are Prima

Thanks for stopping by. Have a great weekend.

Koala-t hugs,

Cathy

First Birthday Word Book for a Boy

This book is the same as the one I posted yesterday, but I did it in blues/teals/browns for a boy. I used the same paper stack - DCWV Sweet, Doodlecharms, Don Juan, Celebrations, Pooh and Friends, Pooh Font, Everyday Paperdolls, Paper Pups, Jasmine, and George Cartridges with my Design Studio and the Cricut.

Thanks for looking....more to come.

Koala-t hugs,

Cathy

First Birthday Word Book

I was thinking of different ways to make word books. So I thought I would design some word books larger than the 6" x 12" size I had been making. I bought a large supply of chipboard last summer and have quite a bit left. Instead of making the traditional size, I created several books at the 8" x 12" size. This is the first of two I created using this theme. This one is for a girl and used the pink and brown papers from the DCWV Sweet Stack. Using Design Studio and Cricut, using the following cartridges - Don Juan for the font, Celebrations for the number and balloons, Doodlecharms for the cupcake Pooh and Friends for the Gift, Opposites Attract for the title "Make a Wish" and George for the rectangle shape for the individual pages.

This stack has got to be one of my favorites....the colors are beautiful and it has pages with blues and greens for a book for a less girly look (made one for a boy, which I will post tomorrow)

Thanks for taking a look. I hope you come back again and see more of my work!

Koala-t hugs,

Cathy

Completed First Craft Fair of the Season

This past Saturday and Sunday my daughter and I were vendors at a local Craft fair. Its held at Harper College and put on by Step by Step Productions. Katie and I have done this show several times in the past 2 years and have always had success with it. Unfortunately, this past weekend was not good. We talked to other vendors and they also said they did not do as well as in the past. Don't know why...some blamed the beautiful weather (although I don't think that's the case) but it could just be the economy.

Anyway, it was 2 days I got to spend with my daughter and my granddaughter, Kayla was with us on Saturday.

Here are a few photos of our booth and some of our creations. I'll be posting more photos of the projects completed for this show.

Here is Kayla, modeling a pair of the knit pants my daughter, Katie makes.

Here is a picture of some of Katie's knitting.

One side of our booth. We got a booth and a half - guess some folks dropped out at the last minute and we filled in some of the empty space.

This is the back of the booth. It was the first time we set up with "pipe and drape"...it looked OK (Katie did a great job of designing and putting the framework together) This metal grid shelving was a great way to support the pipe and display word books and some of my other work.

One corner of our booth. We had lots more room than we thought, and spread out quite a bit.

We both felt a bit discouraged yesterday, but today's a new day and look forward to our next craft fair. By then, folks will be shopping for Christmas...

I hope to be posting more often, now that this craft fair is over. Thanks for stopping by.

Koala-t hugs,

Cathy

Regarding Cricut's 100th Cartridge give away.

Yesterday I posted regarding the cartridge give away.

I guess my post wasn't clear about this. There is a post at the top of the Cricut Chat forum at the Cricut Message board. You need to post in that message to get into the drawing for this week's cartridge give away. Hope this explains how to get in on the fun!

Koala-t hugs,

Cathy

WOW! Cricut Celebrates its 100th Cartridge!

It doesn't seem like that long ago when my daughter and I saw the Cricut demoed at Scrapbook Expo the weekend it hit the stores. We spent the entire day looking for a store that sold it! Katie bought it that sunday and we've been having fun with Cricut ever since! Its hard to believe but Cricut is celebrating the release of their 100th cartridge - Winter Woodland! (to view cartridge info, go here...

http://www.cricut.com/shopping/ProductDetails.aspx?id=361&s=1&sc=2

To celebrate, and to thank Cricut fans, they are giving away 100 Winter Woodland Cartridges - 20 each week for the next 5 weeks. WOW! Just in time to start your winter/holiday papercrafts!

So check it out, sign up on the Cricut Message board. You might be a winner!

Just Poppin' In!

Its been a few weeks since I've posted. I've been BUSY, BUSY, BUSY! The first craft fair of the season is this weekend, Sept 12 and 13. I've got word books, mini photo albums, and lots of new cards. My daughter Katie will have knit items she has made.

I'm photographing everything, and I'll be able to share it all with you. Its a good show, very well organized and advertised.

Wish us luck and I'll post again very soon!

Koala-t hugs,

Cathy