Where Oh Where has my Crafting Time Gone???

Where Oh Where can it be?!

It is hard to believe it has been almost a month since I've done any crafting...As you can tell from my non-existing blog postings! Where does the time go? One weekend was spent away visiting family, and I spent one entire weekend creating my entry in the September Cricut Circle French Manor contest. (And yes, I'm about to share that with you! And no, I didn't win) I spent another weekend catching up on some organizing around the house and spending time with my family. ( I had to make it up to them for locking myself in the craft room for an entire weekend the week before.)

This project is the most difficult project I have tried to date using my Cricut! But it was so much fun to create. Now one of the reasons, it took me an entire weekend, is because I'm still learning how to use my Gypsy and Expression together.... and I'm very detailed oriented. I can get lost trying to perfect the smallest little thing... like those little circles instead of numbers on the clock. I used papers from Creative Memories Black and White Power Palette, Die Cuts With a View Glitter Stack. I used the French Manor Cricut Cartridge, which is the first exclusive cartridge for Cricut Circle members. But this could easily be made using items from Summer in Paris. I used a blank clock from BE Creative Imaginations (purchased at Hobby Lobby a while back). Of course, all the usual supplies of adhesives, pop dots, gel pens. For the intricate cuts, I used vinyl on the circles . I found that vinyl really cut small detailed designs very clean and precise.

Now you may be wondering about the concept in creating this... well that goes to the Alan Jackson, Jimmy Buffet song... Its 5 O'clock Somewhere! Hope you enjoy!

Tanya

Fall Layout - Circle Cricut Contest

This is my entry into a weekend contest for a Fall Layout. I used the Cheerful Seasons Cricut Cartridge (exclusive from Creative Memories). For some reason, I keep finding I like the papers from the Reminisce Accent Palette with the cuts from Cheerful Seasons cartridge. They just seem to work for me! I used the Autumn Addition this time along with Creative Memories Cardstocks. I also used the Reminisce Paper Ribbons. Enjoy!

ScrappyGirl

Why do Weekends go by so quickly?

I have been looking so forward to the long holiday weekend! It was a very hectic week last week... trying to get back into the school routine, earlier bedtimes, homework, being rushed every evening to get supper on the table... and handling all the distruptions to schedule. No matter how hard I tried to spend some time crafting after "bedtime", it never quite worked out this week. "Bedtime" seems to be mean 11pm to my ten year old, no matter how many times I told him it was 9pm!

Now, here I am half way thru the long weekend, wondering where the time went! Friday evening, was spent running some errands with the DH, while DS was at a football game with a friend. And Saturday... my crafting day... some how I ended up back in town doing some shopping for nothing in particular until 4pm! I had fun being away from the house for a few hours and I really enjoyed not having to multi-task for a few hours. I went to Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Tuesday Mornings, and Big Lots.... some of my favorite "me-time" shopping stores.

So... why am I telling you all this on my "crafting" blog... well, because I picked up some things to craft with, of course! At Hobby Lobby, I found some bags that I thought would make great trick or treat bags for my son and my nephew. When I got home, I couldn't figure out what I wanted to do with them. I have never done anything vinyl and I had heard I could use vinyl directly on fabric... so I pulled out my new October 31st cartridge and DS (Dear Son, not Design Studio) picked a design for his bag. He helped me cut out the vinyl and get it on the bag.

All I can say is, I need to find that video for using contact paper to transfer vinyl from mat to product. It was very tricky working with this image... it kept folding over itself. But finally, between the two of us, we were able to get the image on the green back. Then I noticed the remaining cuts could also be used... so I added them to the other little bag for my nephew. I'm going to dress these up more but I was just so proud of finally doing a vinyl cut, that I just had to share!

Enjoy!

Tanya

Simple is sometimes AMAZING!

I love the process of putting together really decorative scrapbook pages. I enjoy choosing a theme, deciding on the colors and cuts, putting together all the pieces. Something about being creative is therapy for me. But sometimes, creating a simple page layout can result in a wonderful page. That was the case with these pages.

All supplies are from Creative Memories. I love the Green Apple Cardstock. It worked perfectly with the paisley print and striped paper from retired Everyday Power Palette. I also used Royal Blue cardstock and the Limited Edition Chalk Inks. The ribbon is from the Cheerful Paper Ribbons. The only Cricut cut on this page is the word "generations" from the Cheerful Season cartridge.

I was inpired by a page sketch on one of the blogs I follow, Glue Meets Paper... here. I also get layout ideas from www.pagemaps.com. And of course, Creative Memories new Page Planning Templates make simple pages like these very quick and easy. I plan to use pictures of my son with his grandparents and great-grandparents on this page.

Enjoy!
Tanya

Laughter and Smiles Layout

I was determined to use only the Cheerful Season's Cartridge. But there wasn't a cloud on this cartridge, so I welded some shapes together to make it. I also welded the flowers together and used the "hide contour" feature of the GYPSY software to hide some of the flowers. I am very pleased with the results... but in the future, I think I will just use the cloud on another cartridge I have. I was able to use retired Creative Memories papers from my "stash". Most of these are from the Everyday Palette.

Enjoy!

Thankful Layout

I have really enjoyed playing with my Cricut this weekend and using the new Exclusive Creative Memories Cricut Cartridges. This page was made using Cheerful Seasons Cartridge but I used the papers from the Reminisce Power Palette and coordinating Additions. I made a few modifications using my Gypsy. I made a second border using a different background sheet and changed the color of the vine and shadow piece. I love the Creative Memories Precision Point adhesive for gluing those very small pieces like the vines. This adhesive goes on like ink in a pen and doesn't ooze out the edges...Best glue pen I've seen!!





For those of you, who are new to using a Cricut, I will be demonstrating at my next crop, on August 21st.

Happy Scrappin!
Tanya