Happy Halloween!

Weeks ago, I showed you some cute images that I bought from Lettering Delights in a collection called "Frank's Friends."

I sized the images to 1 1/2 inches and printed up a couple of sheets  Then I punched them out with a hole punch (much faster than trying to set up a cut on the Cricut to cut them exactly).  I had intended to use these for a couple of projects but the time slips by too quickly - especially if  you are not home to craft.  My original idea was to create a card with windows and have the images spin on a thread in the circle cut outs.  I will still make that card...maybe not until next year.

I wanted to make at least one card with these circles in time for Halloween.  Once I figured out my .cut file and chose the paper for this card it was very quick and easy to put together.  I created a base card and then two layers that would brighten the plain front inside and out.

I added the layers to the front and back and then adhered the circles to the inside of the card so they fit right in the openings.  I cut the "Boo to you" sentiment from Happy Hauntings font.  I welded the words and cut them from the circle cutouts that were left on the mat after the interior panel was cut.

In this photo you can see that the front of the card is just the glittered cardstock layer on a black base with circle cutouts.  The papers I used are from K and Company.

You can apply the same concept to any shape - just make sure that the shape you cut into the front of your card is a bit bigger than the shape that will be adhered to the inside of the card.  These glittery swirls are fun but the glitter does tend to get everywhere!

 

Here is one more picture of the card fully closed.

I got an email from Lettering Delights and they are having a Halloween special on a group of 15 items for $15 (regularly $47).  This group includes "Frank's Friends " and several other Halloween sets that I own and like very much.  There is also a set of six fonts, including an adorable bone font for just $1.



If you click the image above or in my sidebar to go to Lettering Delights you will find these deals under "Products" - "What's New".  There are also a couple of printable freebies that you could pick up.  This deal is only until the end of the day on October 31st - so don't miss it!

Here is one more "Treat" for you.  My sister-in-law made these clever "eyeballs" for a party.  You just stab a munchkin donut hole with a fork (orange or black if you have them), dip it in white frosting, add some red frosting "vein" lines and then pop on a chocolate chip for the pupil for an easy and fun treat.

I hope you have fun trick or treating - either going around with your kids or passing out the candy at home.  The temperatures are going to be lower here but I think the kids will be fine.

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Create for Cricut Circle Challenge

Each month the Cricut Circle has a challenge that the members can enter.  I haven't been able to participate in these challenges for a variety of reasons but I decided to try to get an entry done for the October challenge - this is truly down to the wire!

The theme was "celebrating creativity" and the challenge was to create a scrapbook page or home decor item (newly created for the challenge) using at least two cuts.  We were also required to use the shadow feature, use patterned paper and use some embellishments (pearls, buttons, gems, glitter, etc.) to enhance one of the cuts.

I made this framed piece to put in my craft studio.  The frame is an inexpensive one from IKEA and the patterned papers I used have a slightly Scandinavian look.  The papers are from the DCWV Summer Stack from 2009.

The cuts I used are from the Creative Memories Reminisce Accents cartridge and the Home Decor cartridge.  I welded the "create" to the top layer of the frame cut and cut an extra layer from the red background paper.  It is a bit difficult to see in the photo, but I added some "icicle" Stickles to highlight the word.  I added various colors of gem stickers to the cut and also placed three gem in graduating sizes at each corner of the frame.

The prize this month is a Workbox from the Original Scrapbox Company and it is a random drawing, not a judged competition.  I am happy that I managed to get something done to be included in the drawing - I hope that I can spend more time on the next project.  Good Luck to everyone who entered!

We had a chance to watch our nephews play soccer today.  It was chilly on the soccer field (not the best place for me to be!) but it did warm up nicely.  They only have a couple of games left and I am glad we finally made it to a game.  I think their favorite part of the morning was the hot chocolate and snacks after the game.

I hope you are having a great weekend!

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Design previews...

Sometimes I just sit with my laptop and create different variations of designs that may someday turn into a full project.  The process of playing with pattern and color can be very soothing.  I am still trying to shake a cold and a case of extended jet lag so today I was taking things slowly.  I did some computer "doodling" with a few cartridges, including some I haven't used in a while.  I prefer to use Design Studio when I do this because I can add color to the previews which gives me a much better idea of the effect of the final design.

This design is similar to a card a did a long time ago.  I made it much larger and blacked out some areas to create photo mats for a 12 x 12 layout.

This design can be used in several different ways, I may add more layers before I test the cut.

By experimenting with hiding contours many different variations can be created.

Some of these designs will be perfect for cards - creating cut outs and leaving areas for a stamped sentiment or embellishment.

I could sit and make these all day - now I just need to start cutting some.  I hope to find a chance tomorrow.

Can you guess which cartridges I used to make these designs?

I was lucky enough to get an early download of the new "Smiley Cards" exclusive Gypsy cartridge that is part of the current promotion for six free digital cartridge downloads for the Gypsy - here is a LINK for more details. To receive the Smiley Cards cartridge, the Gypsy must be registered by October 31st - Sunday. I saw images of the Smiley Cards cartridge at the Valley Forge Meet Up and now that I have had a chance to look at it in detail on the Gypsy screen I am very happy with the content of the cartridge.  Thanks to Provo Craft for giving this cartridge and the five retired cartridges (Tags Bags Boxes and More, Blackletter, Christmas, Printing Press and  Indie Art) to all current Gypsy owners.

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October's Bright Blue Weather

We had the most amazing weather today - the temperature reached 77 degrees and the sky was a bright blue with many unusual cloud formations.  I am trying to defeat a cold so I was inside most of the day.  When I walked down to the mailbox this afternoon, I just had to come back to the house and grab my camera to try to capture the incredible skies.

I thought I'd share a few photos with you.  I was reminded of a poem my Mother used to recite (she loved poetry and also wrote a lot of poems).  It is by Helen Hunt Jackson (1830-1885) and is called October's Bright Blue Weather.  I found a copy of the poem on poemhunter.com

O suns and skies and clouds of June,
And flowers of June together,
Ye cannot rival for one hour
October's bright blue weather;

When loud the bumblebee makes haste,
Belated, thriftless vagrant,
And goldenrod is dying fast,
And lanes with grapes are fragrant;

When gentians roll their fingers tight
To save them for the morning,
And chestnuts fall from satin burrs
Without a sound of warning;

When on the ground red apples lie
In piles like jewels shining,
And redder still on old stone walls
Are leaves of woodbine twining;

When all the lovely wayside things
Their white-winged seeds are sowing,
And in the fields still green and fair,
Late aftermaths are growing;

When springs run low, and on the brooks,
In idle golden freighting,
Bright leaves sink noiseless in the hush
Of woods, for winter waiting;

When comrades seek sweet country haunts,
By twos and twos together,
And count like misers, hour by hour,
October's bright blue weather.

O sun and skies and flowers of June,
Count all your boasts together,
Love loveth best of all the year
October's bright blue weather.

 

 

 

 

We are expecting a significant drop in temperature to something more seasonal by the weekend.  I hope it stays relatively mild for the trick-or-treaters on Sunday.

I received a second package yesterday and I am figuring out just how to use the items that were in the box.  I need a bit more practice and then I will share my progress with you...sometime next week...


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A Sneak Peek at something that arrived today...

Today I have a sneak peek for you of a new type of punch that will be available very soon from Martha Stewart Crafts.  We have seen single punches, double punches, embossing punches, pop up punches, stamp and punch sets, deep edge punches, double edge punches, border punches, corner punches, punch around the page sets and now...

Punch All Over the Page Punches!  This is a totally new concept for punching and I have had just a little time today to experiment with the "studded heart" punch that was sent to me to try out.

The punch is quite large and this particular punch has a large heart surrounded by tiny dots.   The heart would be simple to do with the Cricut but all of those tiny circles would take forever to cut and probably would not cut evenly since they are so tiny.

There are two parts to the punch, the base and the top punching part.  Four strong magnets connect the two pieces and you can place a sheet of paper or cardstock between them.  One corner of both the base and the top is flattened and you align these corners to set up the punch.  The magnets will only work properly when these are aligned, in other positions there will be some magnets that connect and some that don't.  One of the problems with standard punches is that their "reach" is only so far and you can't always get the punch in the place where you'd like to create the cut out.  This new type of punch solves that problem.

As luck would have it, while I was at my Dad's I went back to the store (well, I had another 50% off coupon...) and purchased this looped heart punch around the page set.  When I opened the package with the studded heart punch all over the page punch, I immediately thought about combining the two punches for a card.

I started with a 3 1/4 inch square of Core'dinations gemstone cardstock in pink and first punched all four corners.

I completed the punching with the border punch.  There are a lot of tiny leftover hearts which can be used for other projects if you have the patience to pick them up and save them.

 I took the punched square and placed it on the base of the Punch All Over the Page punch.  It is just a bit bigger than the base.

 I placed the top piece on the base - see how the left corner is the cut off corner on both the base and the top.  The magnets snap together with a very satisfying click.

 I pressed down quite firmly on the top.  It is best to use both hands to get even pressure for the punch.  Here you can see the large punched heart and tiny dots that are produced with this punch.

This is the end result of the punching - a nicely centered heart surrounded by dots and bordered with the loopy hearts.

I decided to add a red square (cut at two inches) to back the heart cutout.

 Since I had those tiny hearts leftover I added three dots of adhesive and added a row of hearts down the middle.  It is easier to put the adhesive on the large heart and place the small hearts on the adhesive dots than to get the adhesive on the tiny hearts and place them accurately.

I put together a quick card using the heart medallion.  This photo shows how I fussy cut the patterned paper so the design would be perfectly centered.  Paying attention to details like this will make your cards look much better when there is a strong pattern in the paper. 

 I attached the medallion to the cards using foam circles.  I recently bought these dots by American Crafts called "this to that" and I have been very happy with how easily the backing comes off.

Here is the simple card with the medallion added.  I really like the effect of the three tiny hearts in the center of the large heart.  I am not sure if the color choices are quite right  (I just grabbed some handy items on my craft island).

On the right you can see another possibility but the solid looks a bit too plain.  Perhaps some embossing or a patterned paper with a small repeat would be an improvement.

Keep an eye out for these new punches. There are ten styles that should be available soon.  I think they will be very popular.

A few other notes...

If you have been wondering about the contents of the cartridges for the new Cricut Imagine, the sample sheets and cartridge handbooks have been posted on the Cricut.com site.  Here is a LINK to the cartridge library section on the information page where you can download the sample sheets and handbooks.

There are also some "Green Wednesday" specials on the Nifty Fifties and Birthday Bash cartridges, some Imagine cartridges and the Cuttlebug Companion sets that coordinate with some of the recent cartridges.  Here is a LINK to the page on the site.

If you are interested in the exclusive Creative Memories cartridges, Reminisce Accents and Cheerful Seasons, there are just a few days left to order them this month.  You can click on the name of each cartridge to see projects and posts I have made for each cartridge. 

If you don't have a local Creative Memories consultant, I would be very happy to help you.  I think I have actually met the goal for selling enough to be included in the layout contest for the Cricut Cruise but a few "insurance" cartridge sales wouldn't hurt!  Here is a LINK to my Creative Memories personal website where you can order anytime 24 hours a day/7 days a week from anywhere in the US.  Thanks again to everyone who helped me reach this goal - I will be sending out the .cut files I promised as soon as I can finish testing them.

I tried a few other experiments with this new punch that I will show you another day.  I have been fighting a cold and it seemed to get the better of me today - probably because I am finally home and can have a rest.  I have nearly caught up with the emails and comments - if you are waiting to hear from me, I should have finished everything by tomorrow.

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Card Recipes

I  wanted to share the details about the cards I did with Creative Charms and Cosmo Cricket paper and embellishments.  I made these cards while I was at my Dad's and I had just a few supplies with me.  Sometimes you can be more productive and creative when your options are limited.

I brought along a selection of Creative Charms embellishments, the Cosmo Cricket "DeLovely" papers, chipboard and stickers, some coordinating solid cardstock, paper trimmers and adhesive.  While I was at my Dad's I bought the "Cherish" Martha Stewart Punch Around the Page set.  I worked on a tray table while we watched the football game (unfortunately the home team lost).

The DeLovely papers are bright and cheerful in shades of pink, yellow, green and teal blue.  As a Cole Porter fan, I enjoyed the clever way each paper has a "De" name.

The papers are all two sided and there is a reminder to look at the other side printed along the bottom of each sheet!  It is sometimes difficult to choose between the two sides but if you are making cards you can use both (or just buy more paper...).

Here are the details for each card - all cards are A2 (8 1/2 x 5 1/2 inch piece of cardstock folded to 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inch card)

Card # 1

Card base - Pink Passion Stampin' Up cardstock (discontinued), "DeLirious" paper layer cut at 5 1/4 x 4 inches, "Sweetness" cardstock sticker, adhesive chipboard (4 pieces, layered) and Creative Charms pink gradient gem stickers.

Card #2

Card base - Pink Passion Stampin' Up cardstock (discontinued),  teal cardstock layer from Martha Stewart value pack cut at 5 1/4 x 4 inches, "DeLightful" paper layer cut at 5 x 3 3/4 inches, "Capture the Moment" from DeLovely elements sheet, matted with Pink Passion cardstock, Creative Charms green butterfly brads from 3D Sparkly Garden Brads.

Card #3

Card base -  teal cardstock from Martha Stewart value pack, "DeLirious" paper layer cut at 5 1/4 x 4 inches, yellow strip of three circles cut from DeLovely border sheet, "It's All Good" from DeLovely elements sheet, matted with Pink Passion cardstock, Creative Charms loopy flower from pink Groovy Petal Medley, flower brads, pink gradient gem stickers.

Card #4

Card base - Pixie Pink Stampin' Up cardstock (discontinued), "You make me Happy" (matted with teal Martha Stewart cardstock)  and flowers from DeLovely elements sheet, Turtle from adhesive chipboard and Creative Charms pure blossoms in amber and green, flowers from the Seasonal Medleys (which also include pure blossoms), and pink gradient gem stickers.

Card #5

Card base - Yellow textured Bazzill cardstock (from value pack), "DeLectable" paper layer cut at 5 1/4 x 4 inches, "Life is Lovely" from DeLovely elements sheet matted with Pink Passion Stampin' Up cardstock (discontinued), and Creative Charms daisies from the  Seasonal Medleys, sparkle buttons, and pink gradient gem stickers.

Card # 6

Card base - Yellow texture Bazzill cardstock (from value pack), Pink Pixie Stampin Up cardstock (discontinued) layer cut at 4 x 5 1/4 inches, "DeLuxe" striped paper layer cut at 5 x 3 3/4 inches, "Bloom" from DeLovely elements sheet, 1/4 x 5 inch strip of pink floral paper from "DeLectable" paper, caterpillar from adhesive chipboard and Creative Charms flower brads and pink gradient gem stickers.

Card #7

Card base - Pink Passion Stampin' Up cardstock (discontinued),  bright yellow cardstock layer cut at 5 1/4 x 4 inches, "DeLectable" paper layer cut at 5 x 3 3/4 inches, 3 1/4 square of "DeLuxe" paper punched with Martha Stewart "Cherish" Punch Around the Page set, floral medallion from DeLovely elements sheet, Creative Charms large pink gradient gem brad.

Card #8

Card base - Pixie Pink Stampin' Up cardstock (discontinued),  teal cardstock layer from Martha Stewart value pack cut at 5 1/4 x 4 inches, "DeLuxe" paper layer cut at 5 x 3 3/4 inches, 3 1/4 square of "DeLicious" paper punched with Martha Stewart "Cherish" Punch Around the Page set, flower and medallion from adhesive chipboard and Creative Charms  pink gradient gem stickers.

In other news...there are three new Seasonal Mini Cartridges - Winter Lace, Gingerbread House and Trim the Tree  The images are not on the Cricut.com site yet but you can see them at Stamps Alive!  Terri is great to order from and she has a very attractive price for the set of three. The intricate snowflake cartridge is a must have for me and I may "need" to get all three!

I am finally back home - the past few months have been full of travel and I am so happy to be able to stay home for a while!  There is a lot to catch up with and also some new and exciting things that I will be working with and sharing soon.  I hope you have had some of the beautiful weather we have had for the past few days - maybe it will last for the trick-or-treaters this weekend!

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