Happy New Year with Exploring Cricut

Wow! Is it 2014 already?  The challenge this week is to help bring in the New Year with a card, layout, or paper project that welcomes the New Year.

I wanted to make a card that looked like a celebration so I used this old scrap that reminded me of tiny fireworks.  I used the following cuts:
Happy New Year - Phrases
Champagne Bottle - Simply Charned
Balloons - Create a Critter
Then, I wrote 2014 on the balloons with silver glitter glue and added some sequins.  It has just the feel I wanted it to have.

Please join our challenge with your creation that welcomes in 2014.  Post it at Exploring Cricut and visit each day to see what the design team comes up with.

Have a wonderful New Year filled with joys and blessings.
Happy creating.
Rae Ann

Another Birthday Card for Exploring Cricut

Hi!  Here's a change of pace from this holiday week.  A neighbor asked me to make a birthday card for a man in her family who was turning 60.  I have this quote I love from a book of cards sentiments I bought a few years ago.

With a saying like this inside the card a telephone image is perfect.  So I used the one in Suburbia and a balloon from Create a Critter.

I saw the 'happy birthday' on a card in Pinterest and made one up that was similar. (Sorry I didn't write down the name.)  With a touch of glitter on the number and a coiled paper connecting the phone to the sign, the card is done.

Please continue to visit Exploring Cricut and join us next Monday for another challenge.

I hope you all have a happy, holy, joyful holiday and a year of blessings and peace.
Rae Ann

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas at Exploring Cricut

Beginning ?  It's been looking like Christmas since Halloween.  But, now the REAL thing is approaching.  This is a challenge Monday and the challenge is any card, layout, or paper project with a Christmas theme.

For this card I wanted to emphasize the real reason for the season.

The card is 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 (A2).  I did a simple mountain-valley fold along the paper base.  The smallest figure is the shepherd boy at 1 1/2 inches and each figure was made 1/2 inch bigger from there.

Please share one of your creations with us at Exploring Cricut in this week's challenge and continue to visit each day for ideas and inspiration.

I hope your holiday preparations are easy and fun and that your holidays will be full of joy and blessings.

Happy creating.
Rae Ann

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



Christmas Cards with Exploring Cricut

Well, with Thanksgiving over is everyone in the Christmas mood.  Here at Exploring Cricut we are.  The challenge this week is to make a Christmas card using any cartridge, any colors.
My card is made from A Quilted Christmas and Phrases (I  think it's called a pedestal card).  It's the standard A2, 4 1/4 x  5 1/2 inches.  I used some leftover Christmas paper from last year and touched-up Santa with gold glitter on his coat and a product called Snow Write on the clothing edges (it goes on solid white but dries to a pretty glitter).
The "stopper" to help the card stand is a row of poinsetta's from the Phrases cartridge which I glued onto a strip of cardstock to make it rise up a little..

 

I hope our challenge is putting you in the spirit to make some cards.  Please show us your creations at Exploring Cricut.  Visit the blog today and everyday for ideas from our design team.

 

Thanks for stopping by.

Happy creating.

Rae Ann

My Monday at Exploring Cricut

Where I live is a wonderful mix of people from various countries, of various faiths.  The Phrases cartridge has a beautiful design to use for those who will be celebrating Hanukkah this week.

This is a standard 5 1/2 by 4 1/4 inch card.  The Phrases cartridge has beautiful sentiment arrangements so the sentiment can be the focus of the card.  Use a pretty background paper and a little bling and you have a beautiful card.  There are 4 colors in this: yellow, gray and 2 shades of blue.

Please, continue to visit Exploring Cricut for daily ideas of what you can do with the cricut and join us for our bi-weekly challenges.

Whatever you celebrate this week, ENJOY!
Happy creating.
Rae Ann

Count Your Blessings Challenge at Exploring Cricut

Welcome to another challenge.  The holiday stretch is approaching (as any store will demonstrate) and we are reminded by Thanksgiving of how much we have to be thankful for.  Our challenge is to create a card, layout, or any other paper craft with a Thanksgiving theme.
I love the Pilgrim Bird in the 3 Birds on Parade cartridge so I decided to showcase him.

I bought the background paper at A.C. Moore; I wanted something that expressed 'bounty' and this field of pumpkins was the closest to what I had in mind.  The pilgrim was cut at 4 inches.  I used the Phrases cartridge to cut the background for the stamped sentiment and cut it at 1 1/4 inches.  The corners (which are always great fillers) came from Picturesque and were cut at 1 Inch.  I even trimmed some off of the lower corner. I hope you like it.

Please join our challenge this week with your project with a Thanksgiving theme.  Enter them at Exploring Cricut and continue to visit us each day for ideas from the design team.

Thanks for stopping by.  Happy creating.
Rae Ann