The Pink Cricut

Yes, it's true--I have fallen in love with my Gypsy all over again :).  Provocraft has given us the HIDE CONTOUR feature in the new Gypsy update-which opens all kinds of doors to gypsy and cricut users!

We are now able to essentially delete sections or items from our creation before cutting.  This can save us from cutting unneeded items, or it can allow us to create completely new icons!

Thanks for this new update PC!  We <3 it!

Here is a little introduction on how to use the new feature:

I am so excited about the photo application that is now available for all GYPSY users, with the new update!  (squeals of delight)

Okay, okay---so you can't use the photo on your gypsy "mat" so to speak.  But, you can save photos for later viewing, which means you can save ideas, thoughts, inspring photos of your children etc. 

In this quick video I will walk you through the photo update and how to put pictures on your GYPSY!

If you own a Gypsy-- you should know there are new updates.  Not only have they made the new cartridges available, but they have made some valuable additions.  My favorite feature to play with is the hide contour.  With this feature, you will be able to choose a design to cut out, but before cutting take away lines or contours from the design.  For instance, if you wanted to make a design with 3 items, only really wanting 1 of those items...you could essentially delete the other 2 items.

Keep posted for a video on the new features.  I have birthdays and weddings to attend today-- so, I don't think I will get to it til tomorrow.  Thank goodness for a LONG weekend!! :)

Today, in my internet adventure...I stumbled upon a fabulous Scrapbooking Blog with a VERY helpful Cricut Cutting Guide.  Joy at Obsessed with Scrapbooking has allowed me to post a link to her chart, that you can download and print off to put near or on your cricut.  It is a helpful tool, in knowing the BLADE, SPEED and PRESSURE for different types of paper!

Go here to download/print/view the Cricut Cutting Chart.

Hope this helps you with all of your Cricut Creations!

We  had 2 winners for our Circle Challenge this week.

Vicki Krebsbach Johnson has shared some wonderful artwork with us over the past few weeks. I can't believe the work she is able to get done with 2 girls, (ages 11 & 13) and a full time job outside the house~   I know how challenging it can be to find time to get housework done, let alone--time for scrapbooking when you have kids!  But, we are so glad she finds the time and to have her be a part of the Pink Cricut.


She is fairly new to scrapbooking (6 months old), and has already done so many cute things!  She says, " I enjoy making cards, but haven't tried my hand at actually scrapbooking yet... I find it can be challenging to fill a 4X5 card sometimes, I can't imagine how difficult it would be to design a 12X12 page!!"  I don't know about you, but I  can't wait to see what happens when she gets her hands on a 12x12 page!!  


She says that right now, she "...loves making summer themed cards... current favorites use flip-flops and tropical colors, and her  favorite products include my corner chomper, my ek Success edger punches, MME cardstock, and my Xyron sticker maker. Of course, I also love my Cricut. :)"  It sounds like she has a good start on all those great scrapbooking tools that make scrapbooking so much fun!  


Here is her Circle Challenge Entry!!  Thanks so much for sharing with us Vicki, we can't wait to see more!




Our other winner is Wendy Wamser, who has also shared some beautiful card with us.  She is a fairly new owner to the baby bug, and has been making loads of cards with the bug!   She has been scrapbooking on and off for about 15 years, and it sounds like it runs in the family.  She says, " My sisters are into it big time and so is my Mom...But I didnt have near the amount of cool stuff I do today. So much easier and more fun now too!"


Her favorite tool is the Cricut, and she, like all of us, can't believe all the things it can do. "The things you can do on that are endless. And how much easier it is, cutting things out for you. No more Scissors! I love it!"  


Her other favorite tool is the Sizzix, which she uses to emboss.  " I was making a card the other day, and forgot to use the Sizzix and I sat there and thought,, man this looks so plain..Then I started all over and embossed it.. What a difference! Brought life to the card. "  

"I used to love doing pages but now I am addicted to doing cards. The results are immediate and you can do sooo much with cards, as well as share them!
Oh and i'm also a big fan of the Pop Dots! Amazing how they transform the card, with just one little dot.
There are so many products out there that I love, but that would take up the whole page!
And thanks for the Challenges. Love them!"


We are so glad Wendy has the fun tools she needs to let her creativity soar- and we have enjoyed seeing all the work she has done!  Keep scrapping Wendy-- and keep sharing your work with us!!

Yesterday I was sitting with a friend--talking about our next scrap night.  We decided that we had enough bird cards, but we hadn't done any birdhouse cards.  So, we challenged each other to make a birdhouse card.  I didn't have an actual birdhouse card on any of my cricut cartridges, so I made my own by using 2 birdhouse shapes, flipping one, and welding them.

With this technique, you can practically make any shape into a card!!

I realize now, that there is still a bird included on this card--but, I just couldn't resist! :)

The paper I used is DCWV Songbird - it seemed fitting.

Stay posted for a little bit about our Circle Challenge Winners: Wendy and Vicki!

One of my favorite paper packs is DCWV Doodlin' Around.  It has several papers that fit events through the year.  They are very cute, and kid-friendly.  I can't imagine not using every single paper in this pack.  Today I did a circle layout of my daughter in her Easter Dress- adding a grunge flower for dimension.




Recipe for Grunge Flower
Accent Essentials or Plantin Schoolbook (or any other cart w/ a basic flower)
cardstock
word background stamp
ink
pencil or other "rolling" tool
brad
Big Bite

I need to catch up on my scrapbook pages--but, it so much think of and make cards.  But, today I tried to stick to my agenda and make a couple layouts.  I love this picture of my son, at his first formal pictures with his big sister.  He fell asleep before we really got any pictures of him awake--but, we all know that at that age--that is what they do.  They sleep.  Hmm...sometimes I wish for those days back...and then I remember, the diapers and the crying and the constant feeding :).  I'll stick with what I have :).



I am not sure why the colors didn't show up really well, in this pic--But everything is black/white/silver and light blue.

Today, I used some of my favorite paper to make a simple wedding card.  I used paper to back the buttons and a simply fun stamping technique.

I went out on a limb--had an idea--and tried it for the first time....on film!

I GLITTER Embossed--is that even a 'technique'?  It is my own personal BLING dictionary!

You will need the following to participate with me:

Glue pad, with glue
Fine Glitter
Embossing Folder
Embossing Machine

New Cricut Cartridges this Summer!!!  At first I was a little excited, and then I was a LOT excited!

Here is a peek at the cartridges due to be released the first part of June.

2 videos in 1 day-- I think that is pretty good!!

With graduations all around us--I thought I would make a fun graduation card.  If you have any other suggestions of cards or layouts you want me to try- let me know!

And now, a quick video on how to make a flower with a circle punch.

It was a beautiful, sunny day here- which the kids and I got to enjoy!! But, I did manage to squeeze in a video on the cute Circle Card, you can find on the Wild Card Cartridge.  The Wild Card cartridge was one of my first few cartridges--and I am so glad that I bought it.  Not only does it have great cards on it, it has great phrases and pictures too!!

In this video I did NOT use the Gypsy.  It is funny how much I forget about the cricut, because I am so used to using the Gypsy.

I also introduced 2 little stamping techniques

I forgot to take a still photo of the card--so you'll just have to watch the video :)



OOPS, it is actually Episode 16 :).

I received free packing tape in the mail from DUCK and thought I would use it to show everyone a new technique.  With this technique you can use any printed  material- magazines/gift bags/etc, and turn it into an embellishment.  The possibilities are endless...you could cut out a cute picture, a famous person's photo, a pattern--anything!!  I am thinking I may have to find a magazine with a picture of Hannah Montana to use for my daughter's scrapbook!

Supplies you will need:
Printed design/photo/picture
Bowl of water
Scissors
Packing Tape
Bone Folder



Hope you have as much fun as I did with this quick and easy technique!

What another beautiful day!  We took the kids on their first fishing adventure yesterday.  We didn't catch anything, but it was defintely an experience for all of us.  Today we will be signing up our daughter for her first soccer season, and then maybe I will get some scrapbooking done..?  It is just too beautiful to not be outside enjoying the weather. Maybe I need a greenhouse type building for scrapping outside. 

I hope everyone is enjoying some sunshine today!  It seems like forever since we have seen it's glowing face--but, it is here--:) :)

Also, Check out the new challenge on the Facebook Page   Entries are to be in by Monday morning at 10am

Have a Great SUNNY Friday everyone!

A friend came over today--and coffee led to talking, which led to scrapbooking :).  We made a card, and then she left so I could film the instructions on the card--because it was too cute not to share!

No cutttlebug? No Sizzix Big Shot?  No problem!! In this very quick video- I'll show you a way to emboss for your cards and scrapbooking without a machine!! You still need an embossing folder or plate, but you can purchase those for as cheap as $3.

Our winner today was chosen with random.org.  All she had to do is become a follower, and tell us about it on the Facebook page!  Congratulations Jenn!  Hope you like the Close to my Heart stamps!

I am planning another giveaway in the very near future, so stay tuned :)

Today is another rainy day here--it seems like it will never stop raining.  Last  night I stayed up til 2 am cleaning the kids' bedrooms and doing laundry.  It seems I just can't keep up these days.  :)

Hopefully, with accomplishing so much housework in the wee hours of the morning, I can find some crafting time!! Maybe I will even initiate a challenge for all the crafters out there....

It is another cold, rainy, dreary day here :(.  But, since I took a little shopping trip to Hobby Lobby last night, I had something new to play with.  I picked up a tube of HOT PINK letterpress ink at 40% off- along with some watercolor paper.  I thought maybe watercolor paper would work the same as the pricier Letterpress paper...(no such luck.)

Anyway, I LOVE the pink ink though!  Can't wait to have a "Real" project to work on with my letterpress-instead of just "practicing," with it!! ( The letterpress paper is on the left, and the watercolor paper is on the right.)

Happy Tuesday--It is cold and wet here :(, so I've tried to brighten our day with some scrapping!
Here is the recipe:

On Wednesday, I  am celebrating my 1 month anniversary with my new look/design at the Pink Cricut website--with a stamp giveaway!  I have already told you about it on the Facebook Fan page--so, don't forget to ENTER.

You can enter by, becoming a Follower on here--(look down and to the right)--and then telling me you did so on the Facebook Fan Page!

Good Luck to all of you!!

As I drooled over the LetterPress by Epic 6, I thought that maybe I could do something similar with the tools I already owned.
Since, this experiment though, I was given the LetterPress by a couple of very good friends, for my birthday!  So, there will be some videos in the future with the official LetterPress. :) (SO EXCITED)




Inked the image itself

One of my favorite things to do with my cricut, is to use it to cut out vinyl decorations for my home.  In the first few weeks, I think my husband was convinced I was going to cover every inch of our house in vinyl lettering.

My favorite piece I did, is in my scraproom.  I bought the Love Struck Limited Edition cartridge specifically for it's zebra heart.  I am sure I will use it on other things as well, but it is the shape that "sold" me.  I was also excited to be able to get it at a very reasonable price.  You can get them for under $20 right now at www.scrapbookpal.com.

For this heart you will need:
2 colors of vinyl.  I used fuschia and black.
Cricut Expression
12 inch cutting mat
Love Struck Cartridge
Scissors
Transfer tape
Cricut spatula

First cut the shadow of the zebra heart, in black vinyl at 12 inches.  Since the shape was so big, I did not need the transfer tape.

Peel and place the heart on desired surface.  Since, I was using it on a double door, I cut the heart in half before peeling the backing off.

Next, cut the zebra printed heart, at 11.5.  With the extra space, and not wanting to waste any pink vinyl, I also cut out the word, "pink" along with some swirls.

Once cut, use the transfer tape to "pick up" the design.  Some of the zebra stripes are a little intricate, and it's hard to tell which ones are supposed to stay, and which ones aren't.  The transfer tape allows you to slowly peel up the design, as you distinguish between the stripes.

Line the zebra striped heart over the black heart, and press firmly.  Use a transfer tool of some sort, to rub out the bubbles and get the vinyl to detach from the transfer tape.  I used a kitchen spatula :).

Repeat with any extra shapes you may have cut out with the "extra" vinyl.

The Winner of the Heavy Metal Challenge is Kathryn Rodriguez! She showed off her talent with impressive embossing, inking and design!  I heart this card!

Kathy has been scrapbooking for years, and knows her way around any scrapbooking tool!  She is always willing to share her expertise or her paper :).

Thanks for the entry Kathy!  Good Luck to the rest of you, on the next challenge!