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. 

Monthly Cricut Circle Challenge - August

The Challenge: Create a project of your choice utilizing your Cricut Cut Images to create a scene! (You are not required to use it, but your latest Circle Exclusive cartridge, Pop-Up Neighborhood, has tons of great images for building a scene!) Your project must include atleast 2 different Cricut Image Cuts.

We all know how much I love to create scenes with my layouts.  Here is my newest scene that I created.  The unique feature is the side profile using Paper Doll Dress Up Cartridge and the fact that I used the clothing from Everyday Paper Dolls Cartridge.  Yes, the images are interchangeable.  Also, the backpacks were cut from Printing 101 -- sized to fit the dolls perfectly. 

Let's Be Patriotic

Using the Stand and Salute Cartridge, cut the following: 

Using red cardstock, press Blackout Creative Feature, #5 at size 1½”, cut 10.   (banner)

Using red cardstock, press Shadow Creative Feature, Shift #6 at size 3”, cut 1. (hat layer)

Using royal blue cardstock, press Blackout Creative Feature, #11 at size 3”, cut 1.  (star)

Using royal blue carstock, press Shift #6 at size 3”, cut 1. (hat top layer)

Using white cardstock, press Blackout Creative Feature, Shift #6 at 3”, cut 1.  (hat layer)

Using white cardstock, press Blackout Creative Feature, #11 at size 1”, cut 10.  (star)

**Assemble hat in this order from bottom to top – white, red, scrap of lt. blue, royal blue

Using the Cricut Classic Font Cartridge, cut the following: 

Press Mix ‘n Match Mode.  It is important to select the mode first.  Then as you use the creative features, it will activate on the previous image.  For this layout you will use red cardstock press Shift Lock, R – Chunky Creative Feature – E – Tall Ball Creative Feature – D – Italics Creative Feature - ; - press cut. 

Using the Simply Charmed Cartridge, cut the following: 

Using red cardstock, press #42 at size 3”, cut 1. 

Using white cardstock, press Layer 1 Creative Feature, #42 at size 3”, cut 1.

Using light blue cardstock, press Layer 2 Creative Feature, #42 at size 3”, cut 1.

Assemble your rainbow/cloud image and then using scissors, remove the cloud and discard.

Using the Graphically Speaking Cartridge, cut the following: 

Using light blue cardstock, press Word Creative Feature, Shift #12 at size 2 ½”, cut 1.  (blue)

Using the Plantin Schoolbook Cartridge, cut the following: 

Using royal blue cardstock, press Shift #7 at size 3”, cut 1. (Ampersand symbol)

Using the Winter Frolic Cartridge, cut the following: 

Using white cardstock, press Phrase Creative Feature, #15 at 4”, cut 1.  (white)  Using scissors, remove the word Christmas as discard so you are left with the word WHITE.

Matting:  The photo mats are designed to hold four 4” x 5¾” pictures, cut 4 at 4¼” x 6”, use royal blue cardstock or a mixture as to your preference.

Step it Up:  Add stickles to your layout, thin layers work best. 

Assembly:  Cut your pattern paper so you have two pieces that measure 4” x 11½”, one for the left page of the layout and one for the right page of the layout. 

Using a ruler, measure down 3” and place five banner pieces on each side.  They will begin about ¼” in on left side and end about ¼” on the right side.  

The Stockings were "finally" hung

I am guessing that this was at least a fifteen hour project from beginning to end.  Yes, silly insane me, I made eight-two page layouts of this design.  One for each of the children, plus one for myself.  I do not do this very often, but I am glad I did it.  I am also glad I am done.

After cutting and assembling eight titles from the Winter Frolic Cartridge; eight big trees (with cord wrapped around them) and fifty-six stockings from the Christmas Cheer Cartridge, then I got to print, cut down and mat fifty-six photos, then I punch out sixteen border strips (Martha Stewart Border Punch).  Not to mention cutting "20" and "10" from the Designer's Calendar Cartridge eight times, I finally was able to adhere everything down and place the fifty-six brads.  Whew, I am exhausted, but I do have a great story to share. 

Every year my children get to open one gift on Christmas Eve - it is the gift from their "Secret Sibling".  It is always so much fun for each of them to figure out in the month prior "WHO HAS WHO".  Darn kids, usually end up telling.  You know, #1 tells #2 who tells #3, and #4, #5 & #6 always tell.  It won't be long before #7 tells too. 

Isabella Imagine is Here

So my new Cricut Imagine is here.  She arrived at approximately 5:18 pm on Monday.  Unfortunately, I love my girls so much that I took them to dance class anyhow and Isabella remained on the front step for around 30 minutes.  When we came home, we opened the box and had to wait until Tuesday to actually turn her on.  I have since turned her on.  Here is the disappointment - the brand new mat doesn't stick.  The paper slides right off of it.  Not sure what to do now?  I will think about it and probably call Provocraft and see what they recommend.

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

Mother's Day Project Perhaps

This is Item #218, Drawbridge Book made by Piggy Tales.  I just got it in the mail the other day with a kit.  I am totally excited about it and can't wait to see how it turns out.  I am hopeful that it will be super cool.  Perhaps a great Mother's Day Gift.  Stay tuned for further developments..........