I've been FRAMED!

Hi everyone!

Lately, I've been having fun with FRAMES. Between the Cricut Cartridges Cindy Loo and Lacy Labels (Lite), I 've been making all sorts of frames. I've used them in mini books, I've made a few for scrapbook pages and making the frames with magnets to display those special photos on the fridge'.

This first frame I cut using Cindy Loo, paper is DCWV Glitter Stack. I cut the frame from chipboard (.022 mm thickness) and a layer of the printed cardstock. I cut a shadow with the center filled in (used the omit feature on Gypsy to omit the lines in the center of the frame). I cut the leaf design on the side out of chipboard and cardstock. When I glued the front part of the frame to the background, I glued just 3 sides, so I could slip the photo into the frame (just in case I wanted to change the photo in the future) Added a few pearls too.

This frame was cut the same way - chipboard, cardstock and shadow layer.

I created this frame on the Gypsy, using Lite Lacy Labels and New Arrival. I also used a layer of magnetic sheeting.

I used Lacy Labels and Robotz for this frame.

The next two frames are also magnet frames, and used Base Camp for the stamp shape, and George to put the opening inside the shape, and the flowers are also from George. These two frames were featured on Tuesday Treats, as I was the day's featured designer yesterday (July 27).


Three of my 4 grandkids were the 'models' in the photos I used.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed today's projects! I'm still giddy from the Provo Craft launch party on Tuesday. I just now need to be patient until I am able to get my Imagine!

Have a great day.

Koala-t hugs,

Cathy

Oh, What a NIGHT!

I had the pleasure to attend the Provo Craft Launch Party earlier this evening. Its nearly midnight and I'm still reeling!

A few weeks ago, it was posted on the Cricut Message Board asking who from the Circle would be able to attend the launch party on July 27. Being a member of the Cricut Circle, I replied that I would love to go. When invitations started showing up last week, I was disappointed that I didn't get one. I thought maybe they did a lottery to choose names, as they did say they had a limited space. But Monday, I did get an invitation! I was very excited to attend.

After taking longer to get to where I needed to go (darn parking garage), I finally arrived and after only a few minutes standing in line, I started talking to other women in the line and met some fellow Message Board Members. After showing my invitation, I entered the room, where there was food and drinks and even spray on tattoos. I got my first tattoo! Probably the only one I'll ever get! I met up with many other wonderful fellow Cricut fans. I met up with Simone who I knew from my local scrapbook store...and found out she no longer works there! And, I also met up with a former co-w0rker! I left my job 11 years ago, and it was fun to see her again.

The presentation began, Jim Thornton talked for a short time and introduced the film of the winners of the "Next Big Thing" contest. It was a very touching film and they were two very deserving winners!

The next part of the presentation was a performance by David Garibaldi. WOW. That's all I could say, the performance left me awestruck! He used paint and music and extravagant movement and brushstrokes and created the most incredible portraits! I know everyone in that room was blown away!

WHen that part was finished, a PC rep (sorry, can't remember the name, I was still reeling from the painting performances!) spoke a short time, telling us about the gift bags and everyone in the room would receive an IMAGINE! I can't believe it! I think it still hasn't sunk in yet! But as I drove home from the hotel, I thought, I need to re-arrange my scrap room and make space for it!

I had an incredible time, and I'm so happy I got to go.

Well, that's my excitement for the month! HAHA. I can't wait to get the Imagine and create all sorts of projects with it to share here!

Have a great day!

Koala-t hugs,

Cathy

The Gears are Turning

Time seems to fly past me and then I realize the things I didn't get done. This past weekend was fun spending time with my 4 grandchildren. Good thing was, I had time with 2 at a time. I'm sure when they are older, I'll be able to be with all 4 at once, but at the ages they are now, it would be overwhelming! Kayla is 5, Kerri is 2 1/2 and the twins are 5 months old and I love each and every minute I spend with them.

Its also been an exciting week. I watched the launch of the Martha Stewart Cake - its the same model as the Cake that was released earlier this year, but Martha Stewart has joined forces with Provo Craft and they released a "kitchen White" Cake cutter, and 3 new Martha Stewart inspired cartridges. They are perfect for a wide variety of cakes, cupcakes, even cookies!

Then, there was leaks of information about a new cutter from ProvoCraft. Allegedly, its called the Imagine and it will print images and cut those images out! Right now, all information is speculation and guesses, but will be released at CHA in Chicago next week.

And, today, I was able to order a cartridge I've wanted for a very long time! I ordered Picturesque. Cricut.com offered this cartridge out for sale and I had to get it. I has lots of great shapes and cards and CORNERS (I LOVE corners!).

Now that things are starting to settle down a bit (at least before next week, when CHA hits town and we hear of all the new crafty supplies that will be coming) I have a card to show.

My son LOVE robots. With him being such a techie I know he would love to build one some day. Until then, I will be making cards with robots on them. I used the Cricut Robotz cartridge. What is great about this cartridge is that it has a font on it too.

Hope you are as excited as I am about all the new crafty news next week. Thanks for stopping by!

Have a great day!

Koala-t hugs,

Cathy

Thank you Card

Hi everyone! Hope you are staying cool where ever you are in the world! Today was the hottest day of the season so far...but, its summertime!

Today's feature is a simple thank you card. I cut the flowers using Lyrical Letters cartridge, "thanks" cut using Don Juan. I inked the background of the card. I colored the flowers with Copic markers and each flower received a dollop of Stickles

Today, the Cricut Circle Message Board was initiated and so far, its great! I am looking forward to all the events and sharing with other Cricut Circle members!

Have a great day! Thanks for stopping by.

Koala-t hugs,

Cathy

"Birdie" Greetings

I have to admit, two of my very favorite cartridges of late are Lacy Labels and Cindy Loo.

Today's feature is from Cindy Loo. It would make a great full page mat or, in this case, a pretty birthday card.

I cut this shape at 4.75" and cut it twice. The first layer, I cut from ivory paper, and used my Copics to color in the leaves, branches and bird. Then, the second layer, I cut using the brown cardstock, and cut out the design so I have a frame for the design.

The background is also ivory cardstock, embossed with Sizzix embossing folder (using my Cuttlebug) and the edges were inked. Stamped greeting completes the card.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great day.

Koala-t hugs,

Cathy

Balloons to Celebrate

Hope you all had a great weekend. The weather was true summer like and now its storming. The flowers needed the rain, so I'm not complaining!

Here are a few cards I made featuring balloons. I love to cut them out of plain white cardstock and color them with Copic markers. Both can be used either for a birthday or a new baby.

This first one features a happy elephant (cut from Cricut Everyday PaperDolls) and the balloons are cut from Celebrations. The balloons are colored in using Copic markers and white Gelly Roll pen for the white highlights. I use black button cord for the strings tied to the balloons and to the trunk of the elephant.

The background paper is from the Color Kaleidoscope stack from Hobby Lobby's Paper Studio line. (this has some great bright, primary color papers)

This next card is fairly simple. The background paper is Bazzill Swiss Dots. The koala was cut from Cricut Create A Critter, I sketched in highlights with Copics. I used Black Glaze' pen to shine up the eyes and nose and white Gelly Roll pen for highlights in the eyes, nose and balloons. The balloons were also colored in with Copic markers. Used black button cord for the strings.

The grass was cut from Zoo Balloo cartridge. I know I cut that row of flowers and colored them too with Copics, but I can't for the life of me find what cartridge the cut is from. I will search my Gypsy and see if I can find it.

Thanks for stopping by to see my work. I hope you are having a great summer so far. This week, I should be receiving my Cricut Circle package and the Circle message board should be up and running. I'm looking forward to what the Circle is all about.

Enjoy!

Koala-t hugs,

Cathy

This weeks Cricut Mini Album DESIGN TEAM Project

The theme for this week's project was Vacation or Summer. I thought of vacation and the one thing I know I take on a vacation is a Camera. There is a cut on the Create a Critter Cricut cartridge that is the shape of a camera and I thought that would be great for a shape book. I cut the shape from chipboard and coverd with swiss dots Bazzill cardstock.

Title was cut using Robotz Font and details inked in.

The inside pages, I made photo mats using the frames from the Cricut cartridge Cindy Loo (LOVE this cartridge!) Using my Gypsy, I was able to delete the inside cutting lines so the frames are mats. On these, I used the flourishes for those particular frames.

Another Cindy Loo frame photo mat, and on the right, I placed an accordian folder to hold 4 photos.

More frame photo mats, and I used an EK Success border punch that cuts out a row of flowers. I used this as a trim that the photo can be inserted into. On the right, I used ribbon as photo corners.

The right sided page has 2 folders that hold 3 photos each and the right side is a photo mat that is a pocket that holds 2 tags that can be used for photos or journalling.

I'm hoping that with future themed mini books, I'll be able to use more graphics to match the theme. I'm getting better with these books and I love making them.

Thanks for stopping by. Another summer weekend coming up. Have a great weekend.

Koala-t hugs,

Cathy

Cricut Lite - Lacy Labels

The new Lite Cricut cartridges are wonderful! WIth 24 different cartridges, there is something for everyone. Although I won't be getting all 24, there are a few that are great. One of the two I purchased is Lacy Labels. In seeing the content of this cartridge, I thought they would be great for cards....but I know I'll be using it for mini books and scrapbook layouts.

Today, I'm featuring a card I made with Lacy Labels. Again, I had to reach back in the memory bank to use the Cricut on its own, no Design Studio and no Gypsy!

When I finally figured out the sizes, I created this card.

The background paper is K & Company embossed papers, inked. The oval layers, oval flourish and butterflies is a set from Lacy Labels. Happy Birthday was cut using Gypsy Wanderings and this was all made into a 5 x 7" card.

There are many different shapes on this cartridge and I can't wait to try them for cards and for layouts. Now that it has been added to the Gypsy software, I can get a better idea for sizes and I want to try to make one of these labels for a frame for a photo.

If you are considering getting a few or more of the Lite Cartridges, I highly recommend Lacy Labels! I think its going to be used quite a bit!

Have a great day!

Koala-t hugs,

Cathy

Cricut LITE - Celebrate with Flourish

For about a month now, there has been the buzz about the 24 Cricut LITE cartridges, an exclusive to WalMart. They were to have them on display for sale by July 1. I was able to find a couple of these cartridges and couldn't wait to try out some of the cuts. Funny thing, though, I had to cut "the old fashioned way" as they were not added to the Gypsy software until this week. I'm such a creature of habit, I really had to work to cut just using my Cricut without any form of software.

Since this cartridge has lots of holiday shapes and titles, I picked the birthday cake, one I could use every day.

For the base of the card, I used Core'dinations White Wash paper, embossed with Tim Holtz embossing folder, sanded to reveal the teal color. Used a pumpkin color for the cake and the side borders, cut with Martha Stewart Scallop border punch. Peach colored scalloped oval was cut using Gypsy Wanderings.

Its a simple card, but I tend to lean towards simple, that's just my style!

Thanks for stopping by to check out today's feature. Its beginning to cool down here in the Chicago area, and we are in for a stretch of beautiful, summer weather! Enjoy the summer where ever you may be!

Koala-t hugs,

Cathy

Keeping Busy-New Project!

Well, last week, I finished my second large project within a month's time. This last project was a book for my sister's 50th birthday. We had a surprise party for her on July 4th. The book was 12 x 12, had 14 pages (both sides, so 28 sides). I had plenty of photos to put in it for her....it was photos of her I had taken over the years, either by herself or with family members. I am happy to report that she loves the book! I took pictures at the party and told her I would add them to the book. My next big project will really be two projects and I need to finish them by the beginning of August, but I don't want to say who it is for....just incase they stop by!

So, now, I will post some cards that I've made. I have plenty of cards to show. And, I have to admit, I've purchased several Cricut cartridges in the past month (the most I've ever purchased in the past 4 years since first getting the Cricut!) I have lots of ideas whirling around in my brain!

Without further delay, here is today's project.

This card was created using the Wild Cards Cricut cartridge. I cut it at 5 x 7", using an ivory cardstock, brown cardstock for the dial and wire. Kinda makes me laugh to see this phone and to think how many years ago, phones like this were all we had. Now there are wireless phones, cordless phones....some small enough to fit inside the mouthpiece of the old time phone!

I chalked the phone for definition. Used Happy Birthday stamp for the front and on the inside the verse reads "Consider your age unlisted!" This card will be perfect for an upcoming family birthday!

Thanks for stopping by...hope you enjoyed today's entry. Please come by again and see what I've created with all my new cartridges!

Koala-t hugs,

Cathy