Last Day for some Bargains...

Happy Friday - I hope you have something fun planned for the weekend! This card is one that I made using the Silhouette software last year.  The program includes drawing tools that make it easy and fun to create your own shapes and designs.  You can see the original post with all of the details HERE.

Today is the last day to take advantage of the 40% off sale in the Silhouette America store.  This is a great time to stock up on supplies like mats and blades, the new Advent calendar or maybe try out one of the starter kits for doing special projects like rhinestones or heat transfer vinyl.

sample of some of the holiday images available for 50 cents until Monday

There were some issues with downloading designs from the Silhouette Online Store (lots of people were stocking up on the half-price design files) so the sale has been extended until Monday night (sale ends December 3, 2012 at 11:59 p.m.).  Don't forget to grab the weekly free shape while you are shopping!




Some of the Blitsy Black Friday sales will finish today.  When I looked there were still lots of Tim Holtz products , including inks, dies and even a couple of digital image CDs. Click HERE to go to the site and see what's left (and the new things that will be added this morning).

The Creative Memories sale on the photo editing software (Memory Manager) and digital scrapping program that I use (StoryBook Creater) for digital pages and other projects ends today.  Content CDs and downloads are also on sale - click HERE to go to the Pixel's Holiday Hijinks page.  Artwork and Software (including upgrades) are 25% off until November 30th (today).  You'll find the pages with the digital downloads for artwork HERE - the prices will be adjusted in the shopping cart so don't be confused by the full price on the item description pages.

IMPORTANT NOTE ***Several people asked me about the formats available for buying the Creative Memories artwork.  If you own the StoryBook Creator 4.0 program, you should purchase the content in the StoryBook format so it will automatically load into your program and the tags will be available for searching.  If you use another program or just want to use the images and papers with the Silhouette machine, you should purchase the "Universal Content" so you will receive a download as a zipped file that will contain jpegs and png files.

One more tip - every Friday is "Freebie Friday" on the Creative Memories Project Center Blog.  You can download the shapes to use with the StoryBook Creator program but they are in Universal Format (jpegs and pngs) so you can use them for other projects as well.  This is the set that is available today - click HERE to go to the freebie page.  Take a look around while you are there - there are lots of great tips and wonderful inspiration.

I am going to be out of town for a few days so I will be sharing a few links to some posts you may have missed while I am gone.  Since I post every day, sometimes people miss seeing a post when they are busy (and aren't we all busy at this time of year!)

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Silhouette Cameo Print and Cut Advantage

One of the reasons I enjoy using the Silhouette software and the Cameo is the amazing ability it gives me to combine my love of digital scrapping with cutting.  When the Cricut Imagine came out a few years ago I was very excited by the possibilities it offered until I realized that it was a closed system - in other words, the only artwork that could be used on the machine was cartridge based.  I have thousands of digital papers and embellishments that I have purchased over the years and I wanted to be able to use the items I already own to do print and cut projects.

I won't go into a lot of detail about the shortcomings of the Imagine machine.  I have never been able to get a well calibrated cut throughout an entire 12 x 12 sheet of cardstock.  This machine has been discontinued so I doubt that there will be much more attention given to it.  I can use it to print 12 x 12 papers from the cartridges that I own and there are some that I like very much.  However, I would feel better about the whole situation if the machine could be "unlocked" and I could use it as a regular 12 x 12 printer.

I'd be more upset about the Imagine situation if I didn't own a Silhouette machine.  The great thing about using the Silhouette software is that you can create a digital image in the software, add cut lines and registration marks to it, print it on your regular printer and then cut out the images perfectly with the machine.

You can even use the Silhouette software to make basic digital page layouts (it doesn't have some of the more advanced effects and functions that I am used to from the Storybook Creator 4.0 software but you can make layouts like the one above - click HERE to read the original post about this page).

The creative potential with the Silhouette software and the print and cut system is very exciting.  I designed this card with all of the layers, the text in a circle, the spinning flower piece in the center and the actual card base and filled the shapes with digital papers and elements. 

 

These are all of the pieces I printed on plain white cardstock and cut with my Silhouette SD (the older machine).  You can read the original post HERE. 

I can use a digital element like this little Cosmo Cricket pixie, trace it and add an offset in the software and after printing and cutting in the machine, I have a perfectly cut image with an even border.

Here are the two sheets I printed to create a birthday card.  I did "faux layering" by placing two patterned papers on top of each other in the software for the card mats.

Here is a view of the finished card.  The blue card base was decorated inside and out with pieces that I set up in the software and then printed and cut.  You can see the post about this card HERE.

Here is one more example of a print and cut project.  I used an embellishment from the Creative Memories Classic Halloween Digital Embellishments (all CM digital content is still on sale until tomorrow, November 30th - the 25% discount will show when the items are placed in the shopping bag).  

I was able to create a shaped card very easily by tracing the monster face and creating a cut line and then flipping and welding the shape to make the card.  You can read more about this card HERE.

You can get as complicated as you want with the print and cut projects.  It is not difficult, but you do need to learn the software and be able to plan a design for a card.  For someone like me, this is relaxing and fun but if you are not comfortable with computers it may not be your best option.  Printing paper is fun but there are limitations on what you can do on a home printer and if you love foil and glitter effects you'll still need to buy papers (let's face it - we all have a least a bit of a paper addiction, that's why we do this!).

If you are already a digital scrapper, you will find that you suddenly have many "cartridges" since you can use all of your digital images and papers with this software.  This Santa is from an Echo Park kit called All I Want For Christmas, available at Jessica Sprague HERE.  I would print and cut the Santa and cut the "ho ho ho" mat with the Cameo and add them to the card base and white layer that I cut with my trimmer.

I couldn't resist having a little more fun with the image and I created some new kaleidoscope type shapes - doesn't the one on the top right look like a flower?!

It these are the type of projects you are interested in doing, the Silhouette machine will be a good choice for you.  I am not familiar with the print and cut options on other machines, so I can't really compare them.  I do know that you can't do this with any of the Cricut machines.  I don't know if they will come out with a new and improved version of the Imagine.  Unless it is a system that allows you to use content from any source, I doubt that it will be able to compete with the Silhouette products.

Once again, if this is not something you are interested in doing then you may find that you prefer to stick with the "plug and play" Cricut system for most of your crafting.  It is good to know about all of the possibilities and then decide what makes sense for you.

If you are thinking about adding a Cameo machine to your crafting tools, there are some good deals available now.  The machine is on sale at the Silhouette America site in a bundle with the designer version of the software for $229.99 HERE.  You need to put the code "Black" in the box on the check out page to get the discount (normal price of the bundle is $349.98). 

There is also a bundle deal at Overstock.com HERE for $229 that includes a bonus $25 download card, some glitter, adhesive sheets and a cover but does not include the designer software.  You can search for other deals - these are just a couple that I know about and I do not have any affiliation with either of these vendors.

If you already have a Silhouette machine, the 40% off sale in the store for supplies and accessories ends tomorrow - remember to use the code "black" on the checkout page to get the discount.  The images in the online store are also on sale through tomorrow for half price (most of them are 50 cents - a few are only 25 cents!).

Free shape this week in the Silhouette Online Store.

If you are thinking about this machine but are not sure, don't worry - there will always be another deal, you just have to wait for it!  In the meanwhile, I would highly recommend that you download the free software and give it a try.  You can find the download link HERE.  There are Mac and Windows versions of the software available.

You should also get in the habit of downloading the free shape each week.  The new freebie is posted on Tuesdays and there are also some designs that are half price each week.

Please let me know if you have questions about the print and cut feature - it is one of the best features of this system.

The Creative Memories sale on the photo editing software (Memory Manager) and digital scrapping program that I use (StoryBook Creater) for digital pages and other projects ends tomorrow.  Content CDs and downloads are also on sale - click HERE to go to the Pixel's Holiday Hijinks page.  Artwork and Software (including upgrades) are 25% off until November 30th.  You'll find the pages with the digital downloads for artwork HERE - the prices will be adjusted in the shopping cart so don't be confused by the full price on the item description pages.

If you use machines that will cut files in SVG or other formats, Lettering Delights has a sale on Cut It sets that ends today (Thursday, November 29th).  These files come in a number of formats (ai, dxf, eps, gsd, pdf and svg) and can be used on most cutting machines but not the Cricut.  They are normally priced at 5 or 6 dollars for the set and they are $2 during this sale.  To make matters even better, if you order totals $20 or more, you can save an additional 40% by using the code HoDown.

I hope you have a happy and creative day.  The next week is going to be very busy for me with some family visits but I'll try to keep things current here on the blog.  I'll post the final items for the November Giveaway tomorrow and post the winner sometime this weekend.

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Sparkle and Shine

Happy Wednesday!  I have lots more to share on the discussion of various die cutting machine choices but today I need a bit of a break!  Christmas is less than four weeks away and there is crafting to be done.

I made this card last year the "old fashioned way" using the Cricut and just pushing the buttons to cut all of the pieces (no software involved).  This is one of my favorite word art images on the 'Tis the Season cartridge.  The cuts were all made at 3 1/2 inches.  I used the incredibly sparkly "Dazzle" cardstock from DCWV for the jingle bells. 

The sparkle is hard to capture in a photo but in real life in is truly "dazzling."

The "glitter" is actually a manufacturing process that creates a smooth  surface that cuts beautifully.  This is my hands down favorite choice for cutting intricate designs with an amazing sparkle.  I often use the Dazzle cardstock for the very delicate cuts I design and cut with the Cameo.

Lettering Delights Cut It sale

For those of you who use machines that will cut files in SVG or other formats, Lettering Delights has a sale on Cut It sets that will end tomorrow (Thursday, November 29th).  These files come in a number of formats (ai, dxf, eps, gsd, pdf and svg) and can be used on most cutting machines but not the Cricut.  They are normally priced at 5 or 6 dollars for the set and they are $2 during this sale.  To make matters even better, if you order totals $20 or more, you can save an additional 40% by using the code HoDown.

A lot of the Lettering Delights files are "cutesy,"  like the "Stashing through the Snow" set above but there are also more refined sets like these Forget-Me-Nots.  (And a little bit of cutesy can be fun, especially when there are mustaches involved)!  Click HERE to check out the sale.

November Giveaway

I'll be adding some sample pieces of the Dazzle cardstock to the November giveaway box.

Here are the updated contents of the box that one lucky reader will win at the end of the month.
in the box so far...

1.  2 sheets of the sticky paper I used for the glittered ornament card
2.  A new set of the same Inkadinkado Autumn Leaves stamps I used on the card
3.  An 18 inch piece of the brown leaf ribbon - enough for a few cards.
4.  A small bag of plastic gems like the ones I used on the crystal glass.
5.  Two pieces of the blue holographic paper I used for the fish on the wreath.
6.  A small piece of the white and silver mesh I used for the nets.
7.  The "gift subscription postcard" that you can use to make your own upcycled project.
8.  A few samples of different pieces of patterned Dazzle Cardstock.

All comments on posts in the month of November will be eligible for a random draw at the end of the month.  One lucky reader will receive the small priority mail box full of bits and pieces.

You can leave a comment on every post to increase your chances but please just leave one per post and make sure that you give me enough information so I can contact you if your comment is drawn.

I hope you have a great Wednesday!  I'll be crafting and getting ready for some upcoming family visits.

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Choosing the Best Machine(s) for You

There is a lot of chatter in the online crafting world about the Cameo and the new Portrait machines by Silhouette.  Many long time Cricut fans have added one of these machines (or others like the eClips, Zing or Pazzles) to their tools.  For people who are heavily invested in Cricut machines and cartridges, this is unsettling.  It's only natural to be attracted to something that "everyone else is doing" and to want to be up to date with the latest and greatest.

However, you really have to take the time to evaluate the available options considering your personal needs and wants.  Crafting is meant to be a relaxing hobby and if you are stressed about choosing your tools and other issues it will distract you from enjoying the process of creating scrapbooks, cards and other projects.

Do you work on a computer all day?  When you have time to craft do you want to look at a screen or play with your papers and embellishments? If you are reading my blog regularly, you most likely own some sort of electronic die cutting machine in additional to one or more of the manual machines like the Cuttlebug, Big Shot, Grand Caliber, etc.

If you are a long time Cricut user and wonder if you are missing out on something, consider why you chose the Cricut system in the first place.  For many people, it was the ease of use and the fact that the machine did not have to be connected to a computer at any time to operate.  You could use it in a room far away from your desktop computer and you didn't need to find space for a laptop to work with the first Cricut machines.  The Original (baby bug), Create and Expression are simple to operate and produce results quickly.  Cartridge content is themed with many images on a cartridge so you could make all sorts of baby items with New Arrival and holiday decorations with Joys of the Season (two of the popular cartridges when I first got a Cricut).

You do need to purchase cartridges to use the Cricut (unless you have a version of a third party software program such as Sure Cuts a Lot or Make The Cut that predates the settlement of the lawsuits against the developers of these programs which required them to remove the capability of cutting with the Cricut).  Many people complain that cartridges are too expensive and that you have to buy a large group of images in order to get the one or two that you want.  I don't agree with the price objection, especially at the current normal selling prices for cartridges.  The decision to purchase a cartridge for just one or two images is a personal one - if it is worth it to you then it is worth it to you...but you could find a cheaper alternative such as a purchased embellishment for a one time use.

You can get most full cartridges on sale for less than $30.  If the cartridge is truly full, there are spaces for 700 images, making the cost per image a little over 4 cents.  Some cartridges do have repeated shapes (squares to make backgrounds on every key) or empty key positions but even if there are only 350 images the price per image is about 8 1/2 cents.  There is a perception that the Silhouette images (or images that can be cut on machines that accept SVGs and other common file types) are cheaper.  The basic price of images is 99 cents through the Silhouette online store but this price is brought down considerably if you buy a subscription plan ($9.99/month for $25 worth of images, $14.99/month for $50 worth of images and $19.99/month for $150 worth of images).  At the highest subscription level the cost per image is about 13 cents and if there is a sale on subscriptions, the price can come down to about 10 cents an image.  (I believe that the code
"summer" will get you a 20% discount on subscriptions right now - it did when I tested last night).

The detail that is often overlooked is that the subscription plan is an annual commitment - you can't just buy a one month "deal" to get the images you want.  Over the course of the year, the highest level plan will cost $240 (or a bit less - if you pay for the full year in advance there is a 5% discount).  At the current average cost of cartridges on sale, the same amount would buy about 8 cartridges (or even more if you are a good shopper or find cartridges on Ebay, etc.).  I do believe that it is easier to find free images that can be cut with other machines since there are many sources of SVG files and most of the sellers offer some freebies.

The attraction of the Silhouette and other similar machines is that you can create your own files easily with the drawing tools in the software.  You can also use fonts that you already have on your computer to make welded and shadowed words very easily.  So, if you are like me and  prefer to make your own designs, a Silhouette type machine is a great addition to your crafting tools.  The free software for the Silhouette has been trouble free for me and the program updates automatically as needed.  You do not need to be connected to the internet to use the free Silhouette program (but you do have to be connected to purchase images from the store while using the program).

I think the reason many people are turning away from the Cricut machines has to do with the problems that have been caused by the need to update the machines fairly often.  This requires you to connect the machine to a computer (or sometimes a Gypsy if you have one) and many times the process is slow or the update creates a new problem.  People are afraid to update because of issues that others have - even though the vast majority of updates probably go smoothly since you usually only hear from the users who have encountered a problem.

If you have a large collection of cartridges that you enjoy using and you are happy with the way your Cricut cuts (more about that another day) then you should just keep using what you have and make the most of the time you have to craft.  There definitely is a learning curve for the Silhouette (though the software is very intuitive and most people pick it up quickly).  If computers make you stressed or you can't put your cutting machine in a location by a computer - why mess with a system that works for you?  There certainly are so many cartridges available now that you are almost certain to be able to find any standard category of image that you want.  You could probably buy some cartridges very cheaply from someone who is "selling it all off and moving on!"

I'll go into more details about why I could never go back to using just a Cricut machine in another post.  I do like using the computer for designing and I have the time to work at making my own designs.  However, as I said yesterday, there are times when I find it very convenient to pop in a cartridge, turn a few dials and quickly cut exactly what I need for my project. 

I do find that the Silhouette machines cut extremely fine details very well - this card shows one example. (You can read about this design in the original post HERE.) 

If you look at this lace that I designed and cut on the Cameo you can see the level of extremely fine detail that I was able to cut - this was the first attempt at the cut and it was perfect and easily lifted from the mat.  (The original post about these "cobweb" cuts I designed is HERE.)


Digital Sales

Creative Memories is offering a 4 day sale on the photo editing software (Memory Manager) and digital scrapping program that I use (StoryBook Creater) for digital pages and other projects.  Content CDs and downloads are also on sale - click HERE to go to the Pixel's Holiday Hijinks page.  Artwork and Software (including upgrades) are 25% off until November 30th.  You'll find the pages with the digital downloads for artwork HERE - the prices will be adjusted in the shopping cart so don't be confused by the full price on the item description pages.

One of my favorite sources of vintage images, Twisted Papers, also has a great offer right now.  If you sign up for their monthly subscription for $24.95 you can download up to 500 of their over 7000 vintage images and collage sheets - that's just 5 cents a download!  This is their usual super deal - individual images or collage sheets are normally $1 each.  The subscription does not automatically renew - you just have to pick out your images and download them within a month.

The special Cyber Deal this week (good until Saturday December 1st) is that they will send everyone who signs up for the month long subscription a free copy of their newest CD, Victorian Children Illustrations (yes - absolutely free - they pay the postage to you).  This CD normally sells for $9.95. I have found their images to be of very high quality - the scans are carefully restored and many images can be used at large sizes.  I use them frequently in my Creative Memories Storybook Program (on sale above!).

I hope that these posts are helping some of you who are struggling with decisions about purchasing - or not purchasing - new machines.  Please let me know if you have specific questions you'd like covered and I'll do my best to give you a fair and balanced explanation along with my opinions.

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Cricut and/or Silhouette Cameo

Lots of people have been sending me questions about the Silhouette Cameo machine and software.  Most of them are Cricut owners who have collected many cartridges to use with their machine(s).  They often say that they have invested too heavily in the Cricut to try another system, even if there are some things that they are not happy about with their Cricuts.  Today I thought I'd start a series of posts to try to answer these questions for everyone who is interested in more information about the differences between these two systems.

First, a little background...

I bought my first Cricut in November of 2007.  It was the ACMoore bundled package with the Cricut Expression, Plantin Schoolbook, Accent Essentials, Paper Pups and Stretch Your Imagination cartridges and a set of markers.  The Cricut was my first electronic die-cutting machine and it seemed magical to me!  I owned the original Sizzix and the Sizzix Sidekick and a few sets of alphabets and shapes (which were very expensive) and the ability to cut letters and images in many sizes was a wonderful step forward.

Shortly after I got my first machine, the Design Studio program was released.  I got it for Christmas that year but didn't get around to trying it until sometime in January.  It was fantastic to be able to weld letters and shapes together and to create new shapes using the images on my cartridges.  I became very adept at using Design Studio and figured out "workarounds" for some of the flaws in the software.  I started my blog soon after I started using the program in order to share files and to help teach people how to use the software.  I enjoyed using the software because of the way it expanded the possibilities of the machine and I wanted others to be able to get the most from their machines and cartridges.

At that time, there were far fewer cartridges and each release of new cartridges was eagerly anticipated and discussed on the message boards.  Some of my message board friends were great at putting together shapes to make items that were not available on any cartridge.  I always preferred making more abstract designs and combining shapes in geometric patterns.

When the Gypsy was released as a portable Design Studio, it had many flaws.  Over a period of months, these were gradually corrected.  Although assurances were made that the Design Studio program would be updated and missing functions added, there were no more program updates made after May 2010.  The Gypsy seems to be on the way out and is being replaced by the Craftroom.  The Cricut Craftroom was intended to provide advanced design capabilities to Cricut owners but progress has been slow in working out all of the bugs.  The Craftroom is fine for making simple cuts and laying out a project but I want to do more complicated designs and often have found that they just don't work correctly.

My main interest has always been in the design possibilities available for creating new designs with the Cricut machines.  I finally got so frustrated with the limitations of the design tools available to me for the Cricut that I decided to purchase the Silhouette SD in the spring of 2011.  When the Cameo came out, I waited for a little while but took the plunge and purchased the larger machine at the beginning of this year.

The Silhouette machine is designed to work with a computer instead of cartridges.  There is a free software program that you use to send the cutting directions to the machine from your computer.  You can also put the designs on an SD card and place that in the machine but I have never used it this way.  I like to make multi-layered designs and I find it easier to work with the computer screen available to view the pieces as I move them on and off the mat.

The Silhouette software allows you to draw your own shapes and to use the fonts on your computer to cut out words.  There is an enormous library of shapes that you can purchase and download from the Silhouette store while you are using the software and there are also many files available from other sources.  If you upgrade to the Designer Edition of the software, you can use SVG files which are easy to find - both free and for purchase.  You can also use other software programs such as Make the Cut and Sure Cuts a Lot with the Cameo.

Another striking advantage of the Silhouette system is the ability to print and cut using just your normal home printer.  The Cricut Imagine was meant to be the ultimate in printing and cutting machines.  However, owners experienced many problems with the machine and the updates required for it to function and it has been discontinued.  I have never been able to get a perfectly aligned set of cuts on the Imagine but the cuts I have made with the Silhouette system are fantastic.  The additional design possibilities and the ability to use all of my digital content (not limited to cartridges) has made the Silhouette a much more useful tool for me.

I have a number of Cricut machines and many, many cartridges.  After years of working with the design options through Design Studio, the Gypsy and the Craftroom, I now tend to use them more as free standing machines without using any of these design tools.  I find the Silhouette software to be much more enjoyable to use so most of my designing is now done for the Silhouette.  However, I see the Silhouette as an addition to my crafting tools and not as a total replacement for the Cricut.  There is no reason not to use each system for the things that it does best.  I might sell or give away some cartridges that I don't use very often (or at all) but there are many times that I enjoy the "plug and play" convenience of the original Cricut system.

If you are thinking about adding to your crafting tools, this is a great time to buy a Cameo.  There are special deals available from Silhouette America (use the code BLACK) as well as Amazon, Overstock and other online retailers.  Check to be sure what is included in each bundle - I think some offer extra items and download cards.  There is also a 50% off sale on all of the shapes in the Silhouette online store.

Please leave a comment with any questions you have about the differences between these two machines and the way that they are used.  I'll answer as many as I can in tomorrow's post.


A couple of Cyber Monday notes...

Blitsy has celebrated it's first birthday and has a Cyber Monday sale starting at 6:00 a.m. central time - check it out HERE (if you aren't a member yet, you'll need to sign up first - it's free).  I am curious to see what they add - there are so many items available on the site right now...

Joann's.com is offering lots of deals online and shipping on any size order is free with the code QDFA329 or FSNM327.  I noticed that most stamps and stamping supplies were 50% off...

The Creative Memories "Stuff Your Stockings" sale ends today at 10 p.m. Central Time.  I should find out details for a sale on digital products later today and I'll post them for all of you non-traditional scrappers and crafters!

I created this design using the free version of the Silhouette Studio software - easy to use and the possibilities are endless...

Have a wonderful Monday - and happy shopping online if you haven't spent all of your money already this weekend!  Please share your thoughts and opinions on the Cricut, Cameo or other machines and software programs - I think it will be helpful to many people who are deciding on their next purchases.

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Junk Mail Christmas Card Upcycle

When  get the mail I try to open and dispose of everything right away.  Bills go in one spot to be paid, magazines go to the family room to be read, and junk mail should go directly into the recycle bin.  Every so often, something in the junk mail catches my eye and goes into the "crafty" pile.

A couple of days ago, we got a mailing from Consumer Reports - the typical "send a gift subscription" pitch that every magazine sends at this time of year.  Included in the envelope were two "postcards" to send to the recipient if you ordered a gift subscription.  I thought the image was very nice and decided to save the gift notice to make a card.

The first thing I did was to trim off the message at the top.  The remaining picture measured 3 1/2 x 5 7/8 inches and I trimmed it to 3 1/2 x 5 inches.  I trimmed different amounts from each side to keep the main parts of the picture intact (if I had trimmed it all from the right side the little red car would be cut off awkwardly, if it was trimmed all from the left side the house would be chopped off).

Since the 3 1/2 x 5 inch size was not proportional for an A2 card (normally the layer would be 3 3/4 x 5 inches) I set about finding a way to add a border to even things up.

I punched a scrap paper with this Martha Stewart border punch with a scalloped snowflake design.  The punch is called "Skylands Snowflake."

I liked the border effect but I needed to trim the image a bit more to make everything align properly.  I cut about 1/8 inch from the top and the bottom of the picture so it would center properly on a 4 x 5 1/4 inch mat layer (in dark blue here).

Once I had the sizes figured out, I decided to use some glittered cardstock for the border.  This is the Core Couture cardstock by Core'dinations.

I punched a section of the border on a scrap piece of the glitter cardstock.  Then I adhered it to the picture, centering the border design.

When I trimmed the straight sides the ends looked a little untidy.

I trimmed the edges so finish the curve of the border. 

I added some gems at the two ends to finish the cuts on the border and also added a few more with a slightly larger gem in the center.

I added Diamond Stickles to the rooftops, along a few of the land contours and on the snowman.  I left this photo dark so you could see the sparkle the Stickles create.

The blue mat layer is shimmer cardstock from The Paper Company.  The front and back are two shades of blue.  I had worked with the dark blue side right up until I was ready to assemble the card.  I flipped the mat over and found that the lighter blue was a better match for the colors in the picture.

The card base is white gemstone cardstock, also from Core'dinations.

Why not take a second look at some of your "trash" - there may be some crafting potential in the things you toss!  There were two of the gift post cards in my mail so I am adding one to the giveaway box for someone else to try an upcycle.

November Giveaway update...

Here are the updated contents of the box that one lucky reader will win at the end of the month.
in the box so far...

1.  2 sheets of the sticky paper I used for the glittered ornament card
2.  A new set of the same Inkadinkado Autumn Leaves stamps I used on the card
3.  An 18 inch piece of the brown leaf ribbon - enough for a few cards.
4.  A small bag of plastic gems like the ones I used on the crystal glass.
5.  Two pieces of the blue holographic paper I used for the fish on the wreath.
6.  A small piece of the white and silver mesh I used for the nets.
7.  The "gift subscription postcard" that you can use to make your own upcycled project.

All comments on posts in the month of November will be eligible for a random draw at the end of the month.  One lucky reader will receive the small priority mail box full of bits and pieces.

You can leave a comment on every post to increase your chances but please just leave one per post and make sure that you give me enough information so I can contact you if your comment is drawn.


The Thanksgiving Shopping weekend is drawing to an end - did you buy a little or a lot? (or nothing at all...)



Blitsy is celebrating their first anniversary and they have a huge assortment of  items on offer this week - some of them have been "blitsed" (sold out) but there are still a lot of bargains to be found.  You need to check back if something you wanted is marked "blitsed" because they sometimes add more items to a category and the item is then available to order again.


The Cricut.com deal for Sunday is a discount of up to 30% OFF all physical cartridges!

Don't forget about the Creative Memories "Stuff Your Stockings" sale - you can read all of the details in the post HERE.  The sale ends at 10 p.m. Central Time on Monday, November 26th (tomorrow).

Have a wonderful Sunday - there is talk that we may soon have snow here.  It is definitely much colder and windy - winter is arriving!


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