Cricut Academy Classes 101 and 102

Just wanted to let you know that I still have a couple of seats left in both my 101 and 102 Cricut Academy Classes at Its All About The Scrapbook Sept 13th and 14th in Dixon, California.  Go to their calendar page and click on the classes that you are interested in.  See the website for times available!

These classes are just for the Explore family and the Maker only!  It is not a computer class so you must come with Cricut Design Space already installed and ready.

Cricut Academy 101 is the Get your Cricut out of the Box and get your machine set up. we will cover everything that you see on the landing and Canvas page.

Cricut Academy 102 will cover everything on the Layers panel.  You will learn how to slice, attach and weld, plus so much more.

On Sunday I am teaching a class on how to use the WeR memory keepers Foil Quill heat pens.

On Sunday I am also teaching a Cricut Vinyl and Easy Press Class.  I will cover all the different types of vinyl and there application including how to use the Iron-On or HTV vinyl.
In this class you get some hands on with how to us the Cricut Easy Press too!

Go to their website and sign up if you are interested in hands on learning with your Cricut.





Hope to see you there.  You can contact the store with any questions that you might have.

Getting Your Cricut Out of the Box Class 101

Last weekend I did my first Get Your Cricut Out of the Box Class at my not so local Scrapbook store It's All About the Scrapbook in Dixon, California.  The owner kept asking me to do it and that she knew it would sell out fast.  We set it up for Jan 12 from 10-1.  This is one of the last ones left and we really need to support them.

They came from Grass Valley and King City.  They had to drive hours to get there and they all said that no one offers Cricut classes.  I feel very blessed and excited that they came from far and near.

I am so glad that I did it!  I can really see a need of classes like this.  It is just easier to have hands on instruction as you go.

The class sold out within a couple of days, so the owner called me and we set up another for latter that afternoon  from 3-6.  That one sold out soon after it opened.  I am now set up to do this 101 and a progression of Cricut classes every month this year.  So I am now booked up until Jan of 2020. WOW!

I was very nervous, although I have had a Cricut and use if almost daily since 2006.  I was worried I would be clear or get them started on the right foot.  If you have a Cricut or any machine there is always a learning curve and some frustration that goes along with it.  I started prepping for the class way ahead of time.  Trying to go step by step in my description as well as my outline.

I love teaching  others all about my passion of Cricut and what it can do.  Just ask any of my friends and they will tell you how much I love my Cricut.  LOL!

The morning of the 12 arrived and people were arriving and the next thing I knew it was 6:30 and everyone was gone.  In each class there were 15 eager students who came to learn.  Some had not opened their boxes and some had.  Some of them were more advanced and were still able to learn a new trick or two.  It was nice hearing "I had now idea I could do that"  from the more advanced students.

I really did try to do it like A,B,C and cover everything you see on the Canvas and what it was used for.

I have already gotten quite a few wanting private classes to answer questions that some of them have on projects they want to do or are already trying to do.

I can't wait to show them more!

The classes went by so fast that I never go any picture or video's or even a go live for FB done.  But there is always next,!

I have already tweaked my outline to make it go a little smother so it should only get better from here!

Now to work on Cricut 102!

I have decided to do Video's that will go along with my classes,  They will just cover one step and they will be under 5 min.  I am starting with How to Load Your Cricut Mat into the machine.

November Kard Swap

Our November Kard Swap theme was Thanksgiving or Fall.  I did mine using the CTMH SOTM from September S1609 Blessed Beyond Measure.  I just love the Fall colors and all the Holidays that come with it too!
I had given out all my card from our swap before I took pictures of all of them.  So you will only get to see my mine.  Sorry about that!  Things just happen so fast sometimes or maybe my brain is just working slower these days.  I know you probably know the feeling.  Well some do anyway.  LOL!

Here are the cards that I made.

Here is the stamp set I used S1609 Blessed Beyond Measure.  Every month is a different stamp set and you can only get it for that month.  If you spend $50.00 or more you can get the SOTM for only $5.00.  This stamp set also has coordinating Cricut cuts from the CTMH Artbooking cartridge Z1906 for the leaves and the pumpkin.

I sponged the Leaves with Saffron, Poppy, Goldrush and Topiary to give them that Fall color look. The pumpkin is stamped with Goldrush.

The Wheat is cut our in Desert Sand and the sash in Glacier

Paper Pack  

                   Z3254 Enchantment Fundamentals

                  1273 Desert Sand

                  X5770 Glacier

Ink

                   Z2850 Fern

                   Z2653 Pomegranate

                   Z2155 Topiary

                   Z2652 Poppy

                   Z2651 Saffron

                   Z2123 Goldrush

You can see other Fall cards I have posted here

 Thanks for stopping by!                 

Cricut® Flower Market Collection: Sending Sunshine Scrapbook and Card

Here is a fun video showing you all the cuts you can make with Key 7.  I just love the Cricut Flower Market cartridge Z3285 and this video shows you just one of the reasons I love it.  Take a look and see it for yourself.





 Get yours here!

Making Luminaries from recycled Jars

I have been having fun making solar Luminary jars.  This one has a Dinosaur theme to it.  I cut it out on my Cricut Explore.  I use a solar light without the spike on it.  Pretty easy to make and even more fun to look at.

I love the Palm Trees and Flamingos on this one.

We have been saving jars.  Both glass and plastic to see what works best.  The plastic is better by the beach that way if they get knocked over we won't have glass all over.

 Here they are after they are painted and lite up.  Pretty cool!

I do love to recycle things when I can.  Things always have more than one use so have fun with things you have.
Remember in crafting there are NO mistakes!
What have you made?

Making Signs

During the winter when the Driftwood floats up on the shore at the lake I try to collect it and keep pieces that have some character to them. This piece came floating up and already had greyish blue paint on it. They were going to throw it out but luckily I saw it . I knew I wanted to make a sign with it but wasn't sure what to put on it. I was at the store local hardware store and saw one similar and I knew I wanted to put relax you're on Lake time on it. Since it already had the grayish blue paint. I thought I would just keep that and use the red paint that I had for the top part. I cut out all words using black vinyl on my Cricut Explore. Weeding all the little pieces off is the time-consuming part and then I adhered the vinyl to the wood.  Then I put the red paint on top making it look distressed. After the paint dries I pull up all the vinyl  to reveal the background color.  I think it turned out pretty good don't you? When were out in the boat now, we look on the shoreline to see if we can find any more driftwood that would work for signs. We have found quite a bit I guess it helps keep it out of the landfill so it's a good thing.

It's here Artistry Cricut cartridge from CTMH

Here is the latest Cricut cartridge from CTMH  Artistry!  It has backgrounds and all the shapes for embellishing your Scrapbook pages or your Card.  You paper crafting will never be the same.  This cartridge is fantastic.  Get yours here.

Check back for some videos using this cartridge!

Artfully Sent meets Frozen

Well today when Helen came over she said she had a Great Grand daughter Kaydence that was turning 6 on Sunday.  Happy Birthday Kaydence!  So I ask my usual questions.  What is her favorite thing.  Answer: Frozen.  So that is where we started.
Anna is her favorite.  Helen wanted to make her a pop-card so we used Artfully Sent and found one that work.  We used the Love Bug card.  I just ungrouped it and deleted everything but the card base and inside with the cut makes.
I used the Cut then Print for the Anna and we also cut out some snowflakes from Frozen too for the inside.

For the front we used the Happy Birthday sentiment from page 36 of the Artfully Sent handbook #M10678E for the Explore. We cut it down so there is a border around it. The 6th is from an image search cut out in carnary along with the cupcake frosting and candle flame.

Welcome to Spring Card with a Sneak Peek to the next Catalog

 I think I say this every time but the upcoming catalog is good one.  You are going to love it.  This is just one on the new stamp sets and it's called Happy Everything. This one will be available on April 1st. no fooling!

Don't forget

Because our stamps are clear and pliable you can fit the to different shapes.  Here I bent it to follow the the banner shape then I applied the block on top.

I love the Pint then Cut on my Cricut Explore.  You can see how beautiful the Butterfly is.  I cut the honeycomb shape from the Cricut Artbooking cartridge.  I use the hide contour and and randomly took out some of the honeycombs.  I really liked how that looks.  The doily shape is cut from the Art Philosophy cartridge and so is the banner shape.

It really is a pretty simple card and not much to it.  But I like the way it came out.  How about you? 

The Butterfly looks like he is ready to fly away.  Humm I think I see another project in my mind...

All products used were Close To My Heart.

Cardstocks are Sweet Leaf, Sunset, Honey, Glaiser

Inks are  Black, Glaiser, Sweet Leaf

KARD Swap for March

Here are all my cards that I am taking to this month's card swap.  For a change I was done early.  Can you guess this month's theme it is Teddy Bear.  Mine is cut with me Cricut Explore.  I used the pint then cut feature on the Bear and the Bee.  I love those feature.   You can use this on any image you just use the flatten icon and you then have a print the cut image.  It's so easy!  You should try it. I printed them out on Colonial White cardstock.

I did a Google image search for the bear tag.  They had 12 different ones so that way everyone will get something different. I just printed them on copy paper and cut them out by hand. 
The bling is from CTMH and the stamp set  is
The banner is from page 66 of the Cricut Artiste cartridge

I was not able to go to this months card swap but here is what I got back.  I don't have any info on any of the cards but they are so cute and all so different.  Sometimes it is just fun to set them all up and enjoy them.  So here they all are.  If you want any info on them let me know and I will get it for you.

Make It Now Projects from Cricut Explore

Just one more reason I love my Cricut Explore!  Here is a make it now project that we made so Tess and Terri to learn how to use their Explore's.  I set out scraps and they each cut out their own. They both brought their laptops and their Explores.  I think they had a good time and when they were done they had a cute Valentine's Day gift for their spouses.

Here is Terri's
She added the Straight from the heart S1501 This Moment January's Stamp of the Month at the bottom and the date.  they also used Stuck on You puffies and we cut another heart and wrote on it with the Cricut Explore adding their names and wedding dates.

Here is Tess's

It is from the Cricut Design Space Love Love Love Layout.   It takes about 30 min to cut it out and put it together, start to finish.

The Make It Now projects are a great way to learn how to use the Cricut Explore and they are fun too!

I used

Cardstock    Daisy White
                    Pixie
                    Canary
                    Whisper
                    Slate
                    Gypsy
Stuck on you Puffies

Have a great day and Thank you for stopping by.

Update to the Snowhaven Pop-Up Card Box

How do you create?
I find that when I make something I have to leave it out and keep looking at it. Then I will add what I think is needed.  Sometimes it is not an easy process but I do love doing it.
I knew this one needed something but I was not sure what.  After putting on the Teal Glitter paper it still need more but more what?  I had some Z1263 Bitty Sparkles but they are clear so I colored them with ShinHan Twin Touch Alcohol markers. I really love how well they color and blend. So I used the Z2448 Carmine one to color the bitty sparkles red.  I use one on the Deer's nose. I use them on the little branches on each side of the box and I use some clear ones one the front above the front flap.  I use one clear one on each of the mittens in the center of the snowflakes.  I looked through my stash and found the pearl pin with the banner! Perfect! I love using my stash up.  How about you?
Here is the completed box card.                             You can see how I started here

I really like the Teal Glitter paper.  You can see the bitty sparkles on the little branches.
Here is a view from the side

Here is the back side where you would put your sentiment or what ever you wanted to say.

 I really should have sponged the whole thing.  Well I guess that means I will be making another one!  LOL!!!

Snowhaven Pop-up Card Box

Have you made a Card in a box yet?  They are so easy and fun to make.  This one I made with the X7188B Snowhaven Paper Pack and the X7188CSnowhaven Compliments. It does not take very long to make one. You can find lots of tutorials and lots of different sizes. This one is a 6x6.  If you want to put it in a reg envelope that you will need to make sure that nothing sticks up past the edges of the card.

It looks like a regular card at first. But when you open it up! Surprise!!!

Here it is open.  I used the X7188C Snowhaven Compliments chipboard pieces to decorate it along with the Zip strip from the top of the paper.  I added some snowflakes that I cut out with my Cricut Explore using the Z1991Teal Glitter paper.

 Guess I will need to add a little something to the front in between the flower and the Rt hand mitten.
What do you think?
If you would like a how to tutorial just leave me comment and I will put one up.
Thanks for stopping by.
Check back tomorrow for the update!!!

Bon Appetit Dinner Party meets the Cricut Explore

Last month was my turn to host our monthly Cooking Club.  Their are 5 of us and what fun we have preparing, cooking, and serving what we have made.  I thought I would share with you my table setting, well the place card, menu, and thank you for coming gift.  I made them with my Cricut Explore.  I have seen the menu in the Make It Now projects, I loved it and wanted to make it.  I used the customize it and this is what I made.

The gift box is from Sweet Tooth Boxes. The place card I don't remember but if you do the search for place setting it comes up. I added the text to the place card with the Cricut Explore write feature.  The menu is from the Make it now projects on the Cricut Explore.  I customized it with what we were having for dinner.  I really love how it all turned out.
The gift box has cooking Seasoned Salt for different parts of the world. I placed them in the Close To My Heart clear cello bags tied it up with CTMH ribbon and the tag is from the new Print then Cut images from the Cricut Explore.

I did not take a close up of the place setting but here is the table. My granddaughter set the table and she had a great time putting it all together. She was our hostess and seated everyone and sever all the food and the dessert.

 The table, and hutch were my original set from the 70's.  My DIL Jenn did a chalk paint treatment on them and the wall sconces then finished them with a wax.  I love how it turned out.

Cricut Explore, How Cool Is It?

Well let me tell you!  My grandmother would have said "It is the best thing since sliced Bread!" and is it ever.
I had a customer Brenda that was telling me about a card that she made and how much she liked it.  I asked her if she would like to share it by being my Guest Designer for class this month and she was excited to do so.
Brenda came prepared with everything cut out and ready to go and told everyone that they would have to stamp and then cut out the Hot Air Balloon.  Everyone groaned and started in with I hate to cut things out.  So I scanned it and imported it into my Explore and by the time she had everything passed out I had a perfect hot air balloon cut out and ready for them to stamp on. Thanks to my Cricut Explore.  How cool is that!
Here is her card and the cut-out.

I used our new ShinHan twin touch alcohol markers to color in the hot air balloon.
I love how our new marker work they are the best.  They go on so smooth and easy!  No streaks and boy was this a fun card to make.
Thanks Brenda what a great card you came up with.
Thanks for the challenge under pressure to make the balloon a cut-out!!!

My first Print then Cut image with the Cricut Explore

Well I love the print then cut! I was able to calibrate and start printing in just a couple of minutes.  It was very easy to do.  I just love old keys and of course I had to cut out a P too!
I have an Imagine and Cricut gave us access to all the Imagine cartridges so now I can use them too.  These cuts are from the Country Carnival Imagine cartridge. I have a project that I will share later on with them.
Thanks Provo Craft and Cricut I love the new Cricut Explore.

Phone Case for St. Patrick's Day

Can you tell I have been having fun with my new Cricut Explore.  Today I made a new artwork for my phone case.  With my Cricut Explore that I bought on HSN came with a 3 month subscription to the Design Space so I am trying to get my use out of it and see if it is something that I will continue with.
I wanted to make a new display for my Galaxy Note II.  I love that I got a clear case when I bought it at Costco.  I try to put something new in when I can.  You can see them all here.  Oops I guess I haven't kept up on all the ones I have made.  I change mine out every month.

I used the cell phone canvas in the CDS and when you open it up there is a drop down box that gives you choices of different ones.  It does have my Galaxy Note II.  I used the circle and an ovals in Art Philosophy.  I attached them together and put it over the picture on my mat.  Then I welded them to the ribbon and abracadabra it was a cutout.  Love it! Love it!
I must say that my Explore is AWESOME!!!  It cut perfectly and so small every time.   I just can't say enough about the way it works and how easy it is to use.  My only problem is that it can cut smaller than I can see.  LOL!  Guess I need to get some doctors glasses that have the little microscopes on each eye.  Won't that be cute.  But hey then I will be able to see the little dots and dashes that I have been cutting out.  I can not believe that it can do what it does.  I am still getting the hang of the svg files but it will come.
Thanks for stopping by.
Leave me a comment if you have any questions.

Cricut Explore Meets Mickey and Friends and Artiste

Here is a Birthday card I made for my Grand Nephew.  He is also turning 3 he and my Granddaughter are 10 days apart.  How fun is that!  I wanted to cut small and intricate shapes to really give my new Cricut Explore a test drive and find out what I could really do and how small it would go.  I had just done the Hello Kitty at 1" with no problem now for Mickey.
While I am doing this I am going to make 12 more for my Kard Klub Swap just to show the ladies what the Cricut Explore can do.  Our theme this month is Disney.
So here we go!
Mickey was so easy you just select the one you want.  I chose the one where he is lying down.  He is also 1" tall and about 2 3/4" wide.  When he come onto the mat from the Cricut Design Space he is all in one piece with all the layers you need.  No more guessing what you need and what size.  You just size it all at one time then when you hit go it puts each piece in a different layers on a different mat.  You can also select how many total you want.  I put in 13 so it cut 13 of each piece.   So really all you do is put the paper on the mat that you want for that layer and hit cut.  Simple as that.  REALLY!!!  It shows me that it will take 18 mats to do this project.
You can see where it is going to cut so you just place you scrap there or put a 12x12 on the mat.
This is his tongue and it is less than 1/16" and they are cut perfectly.  I just used a scrap that was about a 1/2" larger that what I needed.

Yes that was the new mat that came with my Explore.  I have cut none stop since I have gotten it.  But I guess you can tell that from all the marks on my mat.  So many project so little time!
Here are the Mickey's all put together and the hands' border that I welded 2 together after ungrouping and then put the back together.  I did sponge his face with Taffy and Blush to give it some life too.  I did this while it was still on the cutting mat and before I took off the surrounding sheet.  That way no ink go on the mat.

So here it is!  I love how it turned out!

What do you think?
The card is a cut from the Artiste cartridge it is one of the folders.  I have wanted to use this one for a long time I cut it out of Sweet Leaf.
Oh Yes one last thing did you notice the CIRCLE in the back it is perfect.  Yes the Cricut Explore will cut perfect circles now!!!!!!


All the products used are Close To My Heart.
Kraft
Honey
Gypsy
Buttercup
Daisy White
Black
Ruby
Sky
Pear
Pacifica
Sweet Leaf
The 2 papers I used are discontined but I am using up my stach
The Stamp set is an old one too it is C1366 Fringed Phrases

If you have any questions just let me know.  Leave me a comment and I will get back to you.

Cricut Explore and Hello Kitty Pop Up Card Box

I got my new Cricut Explore on Friday at noon Yeah!  We were sitting in the kitchen and my husband says "don't fall out of your chair, but it is here"!  I was so excited I have felt like a kid waiting for Christmas.  It is finally here!!!!

I could not get it open fast enough.  I got my Cricut box out of the shipping box and just ran my hands over the box.  I was thinking what am I going to cut first.  No really what was I going to cut!  I had already downloaded the Cricut Design Space and uplinked all my cartridges.  I had also started to design my Grand daughters Birthday card in The Design Space







Well I decided to make some of the cutouts from Hello Kitty because my Granddaughter loves Hello Kitty.  This is her 3rd Birthday and she all excited about it.  Or at least she acts like she is.

Here is the little cut out all put together

Here is the popup card box that I made her

Thanks for stopping by.