Meow-y Christmas Card at Exploring Cricut

Hello!  Today I have the card I made for the family that gave me my cat.  He was originally called 'Butterscotch' which matches his colors but I renamed him 'DeeJay' because he is quite a talker and it made me think of some of the quick-talking DJ's of the 60's and 70's

 

 

I used the Meow cartridge for the little cat, milk and bowl and fishbone.  I used the Just Because cartridge to cut out the shape that the photo sits in.  I actually cut a 2 1/2 inch hole in the tree paper, and a 2 inch hole in the white; then, I mounted the picture behind them.  The little Christmas lights came from the Create a Critter cartridge; they decorate the reindeer's head.  The touch of glitter on one side of them really brightened up the card.

 

I think this is the best picture I've ever been able to take of DeeJay.  He usually turns away when he sees the camers.  My friends always ask about him so I know they'll like this card.

 

Please continue to visit Exploring Cricut each day for inspiration from our design team and join us next Monday for another challenge.

 

I hope all of you are safe and well as this weather changes into winter mode.

Have fun creating.

Rae Ann



Fruit is the focus for Exploring Cricut

Hello, again.  Not long ago, in A.C. Moore, I found a display of  'not selling well' cartridges for a nice low price.  I brought home the Preserves cartridge.  Here's what I came up with; I hope to sell some at a sale our apartment house is having.

I made this phote collage with Picasa to show you the varieties I've done so far.
Another great find was this pack of polka-dot papers at Michael's. (Yes, I am lucky enough to have both stores nearby.  Plus, a Hobby Lobby opened recently just a slightly longer distance away.  My budget is always in danger.)
These are 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inch cards (A2).  The frames are from the Just Because cartridge, cut at 4 1/2 and 5 inch settings (They are not real size but are in proportion to the size of a card cut at those sizes.)  Most of the fruit was cut at 3 inches.  The orange was cut at 2 1/2 inches (from the grapefruit page because I wanted a slice look.)  The watermelon was cut at 1 1 /2 inches.
I made a variety of phrases:  thinking of you, thanks, just a note, get well soon, you're in my thoughts.  Thanks and notes are blank inside; the others have appropriate sayings that I printed on the computer.
These make up quickly.  I'd cut out 2 or 3 at a time and assembled them while watching TV.
I'm happy with them; I hope you like them, too.
Please, visit Exploring Cricut each day for more ideas and join us next week for another challenge.
Happy Creating.
Rae Ann

A Card and Some Jumbo ATC's for my day at Exploring Cricut

Hello, I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday week.  The hot weather is moving into my area these days so there is going to be a lot of staying at home.  The last time I did that I caught up with projects for the monthly swap group I belong to. 
Here's a card for the theme 'Wheels'.  I only slightly modified the card from the Just Because cartridge.

The next are jumbo ATC's with the theme, 'Manly'.  A jumbo ATC adds an inch to each side.
These came from the Art Deco cartridge, (although the word came from Forever Young), and the All Sports cartridge.

Thanks for stopping by.  Please continue to visit Exploring Cricut everyday to see more of the wonderful things that can be done with Cricut.  And, join us next Monday for a special blog hop.  Hope to see you there.
Happy Creating.
Rae Ann

A Sweet Card

Red Carpet Studio is presenting a challenge based on the theme "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory".  This one tickled my imagination.  How could I make a card that actually paid homage to Willie Wonka?  Here's my attempt.

To make this I used a number of cricut cartridges: Art Deco for the frame; Teddy Bear Parade for the hat, Just Because for the word, ice cream and drink, and Holiday Cakes for the peppermints.  It took quite a while to gather all the elements.  I like how it turned out.

Visit Red Carpet Studio to see entries for this challenge.

Have a blessed and peaceful Happy New Year, everyone.
Rae Ann

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

I love this theme that Cooking with Cricut came up with.  I want to make more.  The possibilities go on and on.
Since I don't have any Seuss character cuts I decided to use a quote and select an appropriate cut to go with it.

I found the quote by looking through Dr. Seuss images online.  The blue background piece was cut from the Cricut 'Just Because' cartridge.  The sneakers came from the 'My Community' cartridge.  I tried to keep to bright colors like the Seuss books.  I had fun doing this one..

To see other entries at Cooking with Cricut, click here.

Happy creating.
Rae Ann

Fun with Puns at Fantabulous Cricut

Never say never.  I thought I would never  use "hogs and kisses" because the first time I read it I groaned; I thought it was so corny.  I never use the phrase "stinkin' cute."  Well, guess what? I think this card is SO STINKIN' CUTE!

The farmer, pig, and grass all came from the Cricut Everyday Paper Dolls cartridge.  The sentiment came from Cricut's 'Just Because' cartridge.  I LOVE how it turned out.

To see more puns at Fantabulous Cricut, click here.

Happy Creating.
Rae Ann

A Valentine Digi

I finally got the urge to try coloring a digi by computer.  It's not the best job but now I have a feel for how the program works.

The digi was a freebie at Digi Darla's Challenge Blog where it will be entered.  The scalloped frame was cut from the Cricut 'Just Because' cartridge.The arrangement idea came from Crafty Sprouts.  Their challenge is to check out a DT member and base a card on one of their creations.  I found this card that I liked at Elsa's blog http://cricutlvr.blogspot.com/  and used it as my inspiration.  Thanks, Elsa.
.

To view the blogs where this has been entered click on the name of the blog from this list:
Digi Darla's Challenge Blog

Crafty Sprouts
Paper Playtime Challenge #66
Little Scrap Pieces
My Craft Spot

Happy Creating everyone.
In my next blog entry I made a squash book just for me.
Rae Ann

Die Cuttin' Divas Challenge #48 - Squirrels

I didn't think I'd be able to participate in this challenge.  I didn't know of a squirrel cut on any of my cartridges.  But, surprise! surprise!, the 'Just Because' Cards cartridge had a squirrel cut.  So here's my effort:

See other entries for this challenge at Die Cuttin' Divas

Happy creating!
Rae Ann

Fantabulous Cricut Challenge #87 - Thank You and Getting Cricky Challenge With K Andrews

I've made cards like this cutie as 'thank you's' for some friends and it's so easy to do.  The panda is from the Cricut Pagoda cartidge, of course.  The 'thanks' is from the cartridge, Just Because.  I used the emphasized word, 'thanks', from the 'thanks a melon' card.  Hope you like it!

Visit Getting Cricky here:

Visit Fantabulous Cricut here:

I'm an now a Cricut Lover!

It's been a long time since I've been able to blog.  I've been spending more time making things for my group, Inchies-1x1 and Paperfollies, and now, experimenting with my Cricut.

I love searching online for ideas and tutorials and found the site, Fantabulous Cricut.  They have a Monday Challenge and I've entered in two of them.

The first Fantabulous Cricut Challenge I entered was to make something containing a ghost.  I used elements from Simply Charmed and My Community.  Here's my effort...

My second entry in a Fantabulous Cricut Challenge  was called 'for the birds'.  I used the Pagoda Cartridge to create this...



Having the themes to provide a direction is fun and challenging. 

While experimenting with Cricut cardmaking I realized I have the perfect gift for my sister this year.  She gives a lot of Birthday and Get Well cards during the year so I am making her a collection of cards she can use.  Here are some of the easy designs I've come up with so far...

The words came from George and Basic Shapes.



This is a variaton of the card in Just Because.



The cake and phrase are from Simply Charmed.  One of the flowers is from George and Basic Shapes.

The scalloped background is from Just Because.  The words are from Simply Charmed; I punch a circle out where the little smiley faces are.

These are only a few of the items I've made.  More will be posted later but, as you see, I'm really enjoying my cricut.