August Cricut Circle Cosmo Cricket Magazine Challenge

Contest Rules: Use any Cosmo Cricket product, at least three Cricut cuts, and any Cuttlebug folder. Contest will open on August 20th. Please upload a working link or picture of your project to the blog under the Magazine Challenge tab. One entry per person. Entry deadline is Friday, September 9th. The winner of this contest will receive $150.00 credit on Cricut.com! Don’t forget to take a high resolution picture so if you win, you can send it in for the Magazine!

It just so happens that I had just created a design that fell into this category perfectly.  I used the Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder on the scarecrow's pants and hat to give him more dimension.  I think he is cute opposed to frightening. 

ScrapbookPal.com Design Team Entry

Border This!!! - Creating Borders with your Cricut 

 Copyright © 2009, Melanie Martin-Trainor, layout design only

Images are designed via Cricut by ProvoCraft Inc.

Supplies:
2 sheets yellow cardstock
2 sheets light green cardstock
2 sheets dark green cardstock

Base Camp Cartridge
Walk in My Garden Cartridge

Use 2 sheets of yellow cardstock as the base.

Load your mat with dark green cardstock. Using the Walk in My Garden Cartridge, select the Border creative feature and size 1½”, press button #30 and cut a total of 12. It should look like this . I would suggest cutting one and then unload your paper, remove the image from your mat. If it is a successful cut, then use “load last” and continue to cut the other 11 images. I would also suggest cutting six images and then using the “Flip” feature, cut the other six. If your machine does not have this feature, then just physically flip your created image over and use it like that.

Load your mat with light green cardstock. Using the Walk in My Garden Cartridge, select the Border creative feature and size 1½”, press button Shift #30 and cut a total of 12. This is the turtle shell layer. It should look like this . Again, I would suggest using the “Flip” feature on six of these. If you do not have the flip feature, you can just flip the image over.

Using dark green cardstock and the Base Camp Cartridge, press the Shadow creative feature, size 1½”, #39 , cut a total of 17. Again, I would suggest cutting one and then unload your paper, remove the image from your mat. If it is a successful cut, then use “load last” and continue to cut the other 16 images.

Using next full sheet of the light green cardstock and the Base Camp Cartridge, use the Dog Tag creative feature, size 1½” – Fun in the Summer Sun.

The mats on this page are as follows:
4¼” x 6¼” (cut 1) 4¼” x 4¼” (cut 4)

Step it Up:
- Use Stickles/ink on the turtle shells for added dimension or sparkle
- Use pop-dots to “pop” some of your page elements
- Create “Subtitles” using Base Camp and ¾” shadowed letters
- Place brads/eyelets in the center of each dog tag



 

Copyright © 2009, Melanie Martin-Trainor, layout design only

Images are designed via Cricut by ProvoCraft Inc.

Supplies:
2 sheets red cardstock
2 sheets white cardstock
2 sheets blue cardstock

Celebrations Cartridge
Base Camp Cartridge

Use 2 sheets of blue cardstock as the base.

Load your mat with white cardstock. Using the Celebrations Cartridge, select the Border creative feature and size 1½”, press button #29 and cut a total of 12. It should look like this . I would suggest cutting one and then unload your paper, remove the image from your mat. If it is a successful cut, then use “load last” and continue to cut the other 11 images.

Using white cardstock, cut one shifted border #29 . These two stars will be corner accents.

Using white cardstock still and the Base Camp Cartridge, press the Shadow creative feature, size 1½”, #39 , cut a total of 19. Again, I would suggest cutting one and then unload your paper, remove the image from your mat. If it is a successful cut, then use “load last” and continue to cut the other 18 images.

Load your mat with red cardstock, use the Dog Tag creative feature, size 1½” – These Colors Don’t Run – the apostrophe is Shift #6, it will also cut the quotations, just discard those.

The mats on this page are as follows:
4¼” x 6¼” (cut 2) 5 ¼” x 7 ¼”

Titles:       Made in America       Red, White & Blue Forever

Step it Up:
- Use Stickles on the stars for added dimension and sparkle
- Use pop-dots to “pop” some of your page elements
- Create “Subtitles” using Base Camp and ¾” shadowed letters
- Change up the colors, use red as the base, etc.
- Place brads/eyelets in the hole of each dogtag

Cricut Cards - way to much fun

Copyright © 2010, Melanie Martin-Trainor, layout design only

Images are designed via Cricut by ProvoCraft Inc.

Supplies:
1 sheet black cardstock         1 sheet white cardstock   1 sheet tan cardstock        1 sheet rust cardstock
1 sheet blue cardstock           1 sheet printed paper       1” thin ribbon                   2” satin ribbon

Mini Monograms Cricut Cartridge
Wild Card Cricut Cartridge
A Child’s Year Cricut Cartridge

Using the blue cardstock, cut in half so that you have two pieces measuring 5½” x 8½”. Take one piece and fold in half, as this will be your card base for Card D. You will be cutting the other piece.

Using the tan cardstock, cut off a strip that measures 4¼” x 12”, then cut off 1” off of that strip, it will now measure 4¼” x 11”, fold in half as this will be your card base for Card A.

Using white cardstock, cut a strip that measures 4” x 12”, turn & cut at 5 ¼” so your piece measures 5¼” x 4” = Card D.

Using remainder strip (6 ¾” x 4”), cut a square that measures 3¾” x 3¾” for Card C.

Using rust cardstock, cut a strip that measures 4” x 12”, turn & cut at 5 ¼” so your piece measures 5¼” x 4” = Card A.

Using your printed paper, cut a strip that measures 4” x 12”, using that strip cut the following pieces:

2” x 4”, 2½” x 4” and ¾” x 4 = Card B 3 ¾” x 5” = Card A


Using the Wild Card Cartridge, cut the following:
Blue Cardstock, size 5 ¼”, Icon Creative Feature, Shift #2, cut one (1) = Card D
Black Cardstock, size 5 ¼”, Icon Creative Feature, #2, cut one (1) = Card D
Tan Cardstock, size 4 ¼”, gift card #15, cut one (1) = Card B

Using the A Child’s Year Cartridge, cut the following:
Tan Cardstock, size 3 ½”, #3, cut one (1) = Card A
Rust Cardstock, size 3 ½”, Shadow Creative Feature, #3, cut one (1) = Card A

Using the Mini Monograms Cartridge, cut the following:
White Cardstock, size 4½” , scalloped circle #48, cut two (2) = Card C
Black Cardstock, size 4½”, scalloped circle #48, cut two (2) = Card C
Black Cardstock, size 2”, scalloped circle #48, cut one (1) = Card D
Blue Cardstock, size 2”, select Monogram you wish for your card, cut one (1) = Card D
Rust Cardstock, size 2”, scalloped circle #48, cut one (1) = Card B
Tan Cardstock, size 2¼”, circle #45, cut one (1) = Card B

My Most Favorite Layout Ever!

This is the first layout that I have created for Baby Lindsi's album.  Yes, she is almost six months old, good thing that I have eighteen years before she graduates.  I loved this layout so much, I have created several versions of it. 

3 sheets red cardstock        2 sheets black cardstock
2 sheets white cardstock     2 sheets tan cardstock
George & Basic Shapes Cricut Cartridge
Ashlyn’s Alphabet Cricut Cartridge
Mini Monograms Cricut Cartridge
Home Décor Cricut Cartridge
Walk in My Garden Cricut Cartridge


Use 2 sheets of white cardstock as your base.

Cut one sheet of the black cardstock in half, so that you have two pieces that measure 6” x 12”. Place one 2½” from the top on the left page and one directly at the top for the right page. Do not adhere the right page as the circle will go underneath the black 6” x 12” piece.

Cut one 3” x 12” strip from the tan cardstock for the left page of your layout. The remaining cardstock will be used for mats and/or titles. Place the 3” x 12” strip ¾” from the bottom of the left page, it will overlap the black a little, this is perfect.

Using the George and Basic Shapes Cartridge, cut the following:
One circle at 9”, one circle at 10” and one circle at ½” using the two sheets of red cardstock. You will also cut two black circles, one at ¾” and the other at ½”. The circle is located at Shift #11 (or Shift Q). The 9” circle is for the left page and the 10” circle is for the right page.

Using the Mini Monograms Cartridge, cut the following:
Load your mat with the remaining piece of red cardstock and cut two scallop circles at 4½”, button #48.

Load your mat with the tan cardstock and cut two scallop circles at 4½”, button #48.

Using the Home Décor Cartridge, cut the following:
Load your mat with black cardstock and cut the word “Memories” out at size 1 ½”, button #41. Or you can choose from the following sentiments:

Simplify, #42 Hope, #43 Miracle, #44 Create, #45 Love, #46
Forever, #47 Explore, #48 Adore, #49 Beautiful, #50

You will also cut the flourish; select the SHADOW Creative Feature, size 1”, button #3

Using the Ashlyn’s Alphabet Cartridge, cut the following:
Cut your title using size 1½” using the Block Creative Feature. Some title suggestions are as follows:

That’s Amore!, I Will, You’re Mine, I’m Yours – the possibilities are endless. The idea behind this is intimacy. As others view your scrapbook albums, there may be some journaling that is private and you don’t want shared with everyone. Use this technique to “hide” your special thoughts and feel free to leave your legacy behind. Keep in mind in choosing your title; you may have to use a smaller size if the title is longer than the examples above.

Using the Walk in My Garden Cartridge, cut the following:
Cut the daisy flower by pushing button #1, you will need one black at size 3”, 2” and 1½” and you will need one red at size 2½” and 1½”.

The mats on this page are as follows: 4¼” x 6”, cut 3 using tan cardstock. Ink the edges with black.

You will need one additional mat that measures 3¾” x 3¾” to go inside your hidden journaling box.

Hidden Journal Box – fold each scallop circle in half so that one scallop is folded in half (you will get a half bump if you have folded correctly). After each scallop circle is folded in half, you assemble the square with four 90 degree corners. 

Step It Up:
Cut the year and place vertically, size 1” using Ashlyn’s Alphabet Cartridge
The flowers can be substituted for silk flowers placed with brads or buttons in the center
The flowers can be substituted for other embellishments to fit the theme of your layout.
Take a look at the right page of your layout; it can be used four ways, just turn it.

February 2009 Cricut Club

I was inspired by this project by my boys. The two older boys both have a special young lady in their life, so I took pictures of each couple on Valentine's Day. How sweet is that? For the most part, Cricut Club in Febuary was a hit. I had procrastinated posting anything because there were a few negative comments to this project. I have since learned to take the good with the bad. :) The comments were not actually bad, just truthful. So I am thankful for the honesty. The thing for me to always remember is to try to make more choices available for my students. A great learning experience. So I have changed how I do things a bit as you will see with upcoming posts.

So here is the long awaited February 2009 Cricut Club project. The cartridges used are StoryBook, New Arrival and A Walk in My Garden.

January Cricut Club

It is finally time that I can post my January Cricut Club Project. I wanted to wait until after I thought class for the month. It was a lot of fun and I have three samples of this project. The first one is available today, the other two will have to wait until after I get my camera back. If ever I get my camera back. Anyways, Cricut Club this month was a great group of ladies, once again. They are filled with talent and I love to see what they create.

This project uses the Alphalicious and Celebrations cartridges. My idea behind this project is to create one album entitled "The Years in Review" and every year attempt to create the same or very similiar layout. I now have 2007 and 2008 completed. Going back is more difficult then it seems to be. I am going to keep on going back as far as I can remember and of course, find pictures and journaling for. My first digital camera was purchased in 2005; so before that, it will be going thru pictures and CD's.

My other thought for this project is to show progress. A growing child, a pregnancy journal, baby's first year, construction project or weight-loss journal. Just a few ideas to show an activity in review or progress. Enjoy!

December Cricut Club

Well, our lovely Best Buy Geek squad called on Saturday to tell me that my camera is not covered under warranty and it was going to cost me $80 to fix it. So what exactly does that warranty cover? The quick answer is NOTHING. Aside from the fact that my camera was to be done and returned to me by Jan 18th. Today is the 19th and do I have a camera - NOPE. I will never buy another warranty.

Done with my tangent now, so I guess today I will share what I created for my December meeting of Cricut Club. My students had a great time creating this layout. Again, I used double sided papers. You will not find me using double sided papers very often and not use both sides. I am pretty greedy with my paper and don't want to miss out on any patterns. Love them but find them frustrating. So many choices.

I use to hoard the pattern paper because it was all so pretty and I didn't want to mess it up. Now I find myself hoarding the double sided pattern paper. Getting better - working thru my addiction. Or at least trying too.

November Cricut Club

Yes, I am putting up old projects. My digital camera is in the repair shop. It is under warranty so they will take their sweet time fixing it, I am sure. What motivation do they have, they will not be getting paid for the service. Anyhow, this is the November Cricut Club project that I taught in November - obviously. In the first version of this project used real, metal hinges but since I teach Cricut classes, I needed to use the hinges on Fabulous Finds. For future reference, know that you need to make very small hinges or else the holes get too large. In other words, as the hinges get bigger, so do the holes. Bummer. Or else use the blackout version of the hinge and put in your own holes. Just thought of that as I was typing so I may need to give that a try.

October Cricut Club

This is an absolutely fun project. The whole layout was inspired by my friend, Amy. It is using George and Basic Shapes. Each pumpkin is actually four pieces before the stem and the vine. The large pumpkins are a circle and three ovals. The smaller pumpkins are an oval and three skinnier ovals. The stem is an apostrophe and the vines are some fancy thing from the Accent Essentials Cartridge. I just love being able to find "out of the box" ways to use the cartridge images. Sometimes it helps to turn the images upside down to help spark ideas that you may not have thought of before. I did this layout for our layout swap so I had to actually make like eight of them. If I never see another pumpkin again, it won't be too soon. I do still have one more to make though for a fundraiser, but it does not need to be ready until fall, so I have plenty of time.

Nana's Gift

I made this 12 x 12 page for my friend, Deb. When she shared this picture with me, I knew I just had to have it. I absolutely love black and white pictures with a dash of color. All I wanted was the .jpeg of the photo but even better she brought me a 5 x 7 print of it. I knew that she had several of these frames left over so she brought me one of those as well. The wood is bare, it does need to be stained or painted. Deb's scraproom is brown - the dilemma is to stain the frame, paint it or leave it natural looking. I left the frame choice up to her to decide as I just could not decide. I was so happy to share this with her. After creating this page, I was wishing that Baby James was my grandson so I could keep it. Even though the layout is quite simple, it took me a long time of deep thought of how to focus on the beauty of the picture and not go that one step too far and over-do it.

Cricut Queen

One of the coolest gifts that I have ever received was from a friend that I met thru taking my Cricut Classes. She makes the coolest things anyway but this one was for me. I made a new friend and have a most awesome piece of art for my scrap room. Jami says The Cricut Queen is really her and not me because of the hair. Jami has bangs and I do not. I will just go on letting Jami believe the Cricut Queen is her. I think she is the Cricut Queen in training. Thank you, Chris for the most beautiful queen anyone could ask for and thank you to your Jim for the wooden stand that she stands on. By the way, the wooden pole is stuck up her rear, I hope you are not trying to tell me something by this.