Loving my Gypsy

Whenever I have been going Shopping for crafts lately I always go look a the new cricut carts, seeing if they are on sale or discounted a great deal...looking for a bargain so I can have more options to create more neat stuff with my cricut.

I have had a Cricut for several years and for a while there I had 2 the original and the Expression. I recently sold my old original Cricut because I haven't had to haul one upstairs to use with my computer.

The reason my Gypsy...I love it. I have been talking about how I do a LO (layout) and cut with my Gypsy and the last few days I have been working on a project I cant really show you for about 4 weeks.

Because of this ,I thought I would show you the process, or at least parts of it.

I have been working on a Recipe swap for a 6x6 cookbook. Here is a picture of a LO I did a few years ago. I am using the same recipe for this swap but I am changing it up a bit so it will look different. I am also doing 2 other recipies and a Biography page.

One great thing about using the Gypsy or Design Studio to create a project is that you can Lay it all out and move stuff around to make the best use of paper. For this project I used alot of scraps from the scrap box and you know how I love using the stash. Because you can know where each object is to be cut you can place the paper on the correct spot on the mat. Can you believe when I origianly set up this cut I had the blank spot except 2 squares filled with a light green color..I choose not to use it onthe final project so I deleted it from the cut before I cut the other 5 pages out.

I use several mats at a time and for this 5 copy project I used three mats...and after connecting the Gypsy to the Cricut Expression I loaded and cut 5 mats. for each of the 4 pages.

Because I use the Gypsy. I dont need to worry about changing cartridges and it just cuts until its finished.

Why the Cricut is cutting I can remove the pieces and prep them for using on my project. I love the pointed hook form the tool kit and the Spatula for removing pieces with out tearing the paper.

I often use a glue pen like EK fine tip or Quikie because they work well with fine lines and small pieces.

I also reload the mat if neccessary to keep the rotation going.

All my projects created using the Gypsy(or Design Studio) can be saved on it or on my computer for easy access and can be reused in the futire if neccessary. You can even share files with a friends so they can use it. I hope you enjoy the pictures...I am hoping they are worth a thousand words! I am also hoping you find this helpful. Soon I hope to have a card to share..you may look for these Cookbook pages the first weekend of April.

Unitl Later... Happy Stamping!

Happy New Year

Well It's been a busy week of running around and doing things...

Today because I have been busy I spent the day Stamping and designing Sketches for something I have been asked to do in January. Every Thursday I'll have a new post Guaranteed...

I hope to catch up on some challenges tomorrow so I'll have a card to post then again also.

Last week I made this cute Chapstick holder using My Bold Butterfly Jumbo Wheel and My Cricut using Mickey & Friend Cart and the Icon for Minnie this pretty Rose. I shadowed with SU basic Grey, I used an Olive color and an old Pink form SU's retired colors I believe.

I cut a card front at 5.5 x4.25 then cut it in half so I had two pieces 2 3/4 x 4 1/4.

I scored both pieces at 2.5 from each side so their is a 1/2" scored piece int he middle. It a 1" slit at 1/4, 2, 2 1/4, 2 3/4, 3, 4" I believe that is correct then I stick the pieces together along the outer edges using tape runner after folding the score lines in opposite directions. I used cute converse fro the sentiment in basic Grey and Cetainly celery to roll the wheel on.

I cut the rose at 3 " with my cricut and embellished with ribbon and Hero Arts 2mm clear gemstones.

I hope you enjoyed it....

Until Later

.... Happy Stamping & Happy New Year!

Challenge Card and Scrapbook page

I made this card for 2 challenges on SCS(split coast).

One of the challenges is for todays way to use it challengeWT140, and one for todays Stalkers Challenge sketchSTSC04.

I had fun trying to make the layout into a double fold card. It turned out, butnext time I think I stick to the LO. I just wanted more writing room, because I made it to send to a friend.

I used Kraft paper for the base, and SU Close to Cocoa for matting the Old Olive(Michaels). I wish I had some Chocolate Chip but I am out, used it up as well as my brown brads. I cut the SU Pumpkin Pie Piece and the Old Olive piece to shape and then embossed to the fold on both pieces.

Thank goodness the folders can fit in the Cuttlebug both directions making these embossings possible.

I slit the green piece along the fold because I wanted to

fit the Flap in it. It worked really well. IStamped Paisley on the back inside of the Pumpkin Pie piece of the card to contrast against the embossing. I think it worked really well. Then I was able to also double the ribbona nd tie it. I originally was going to slip the rivet over the ribbon , but I couldnt find the right place to attach the brads. So I attached then to the rivet, and then mounted it on a dimensional and orange matted it so it would stand out more against the gr

een flap. It wasn't that hard to make and I enjoyed being creative with the layout.

The other thing I finally finished was my last Cricut thread Challenge to do a scrap book page using a Cricut Cut not a font.

I used some paper I got last christmas in a scrappack. I then matted pictures with Pumpkin Pie, Bashful Blue, and Basic Grey SU papers. I made a journaling area for my Daughter and stamped a sentiment from Happy Harmony on Bashful Blue also.

THe flowers were cut using my George Cartridge and the silhouette feature and the Blackout shadow. 2 flowers were cut at 1 1/4" the other at 2 1/2". It is a simple fun page to make.

Until later ... Happy Stamping!

item 1 for Cricut Challenge #1

Okay tonight I finshed another card the last for this cricut challenge.

This Item was to make a card using a cricut die cut not a font.

I chose to use my Doodlecharms Cartridge.

It took a long time to decide on paper for this one. at first I was just going to use the tan and blues the darker blue being SU Bordering Blue. The other two are from a nuetrals and blue assortment I picked up along time ago,I think at Michaels. When it came time to decide on a ribbon I quickly switched form the nice stictched tan one to this Pink and Blue satin. I used the same Light Pink Cardstock I used yesterday.

I cut the tag stocking at 2" and then took ou tthe pieces and taped the back with packing tape, and sprinkled with glitter. I then cut a 1 1/4 circle with my SU circle punch and adhered it behind so the stocking was more white. I stamped the SU "Snow Fluries" and SU "Warm Words" in White Craft and then embossed with Kaliedascope embossing powder. The embossed blue piece was a scrap from the snowflake card I made a few weeks ago. I used a wide wave decorative scissoron the three layered pieces. The tan was pierced with a paper piercer and the Pink Punched with a 1/8" circle punch. The layer was mounted on dimensionals and so was the tag after the ribbon was threaded through.

Until Later ...Happy Stamping!

item 5 for Cricut Challenge #1 "iloveyou" card

Item 5 of our first ever cricut challenge is to make anything using your cricut and cuttlebug on the same cut out.

I made this card using my Mini Monograms cart.I wanted to scallop the squares and repeat SC149 so I decided to combine the challenges.

I cut the squares scalloped and rounded, the flowers and the "ilove you" and its shadow with this cart. The large square was 3", the large flower 2" ,small Squares and flowers 1". I used Old Olive to sponge on the white rounded squares after embossing with D'vine Swirl. I thought it made a stem like feel to the vine. I cut a scrap piece of Old Olive embossed with the "Bubbles" folder and free handed the cut out of this leaf. I used SU Old Olive marker to draw the veins on the leaf. I embossed the pink flowers with "bubbles also because I felt that layer of the card should have the same texture. The "iloveyou" was cut at 1" in old olive and a shadow of a teal color I had on hand. I used three MM Sherbet colored flower brads in yellow to make the centers of the flowers. This also attached the sentiment to the card. The pink flowers and ilove u were attached with dimensionals. I used SU Petals and Paisleys Designer Paper for the base and center stripe on the card. I added a bit more pink by using the same light pink from the flowers to mat the stripe of designer paper in the center. The light pink comes from an assorted package of called "Baby Girl" cardstock from Michaels. I hope you like it.

Only two Cricut Challenges left.

Until Later ...Happy Stamping!

Item 3 for Cricut Challenge #1

Item 3 for Cricut Challenge #1 Is make a 3d Object using a font cartridge.

I made this little Scrapbook Display Frame using

Mini Monograms. When I cut the turquoise squares with slots I was intending to make a box shaped ornament, but quickly changed to something else.

I cut all the squares at 4"; 4- with slots and 6- just squares. The plain squares had to be cut using real dial size.

The flower on the cover was cut at 2 1/2" and the circle "a" at 2". The small flower on the back cover was cut at 1 1/4" and the circle center was punched out with a 1/2" circle punch.

I used turqouise grosgrain ribbon to attach the Initial flower to the front. I used 4 coasters to make the covers. The Designer Paper was some I recieved cut as a christmas present last year I do not know the maker.

I traced the coasters to make the covers and then trimed the tips off with a corner rounder not all the way inserted. I sanded the edges a bit after attaching the cardstock and paper to the cover. The Silver Glitter ribbon I used for the binding was a purchased from Wal-mart clearance after last Christmas. I threaded it through the slit squares and then spaced the gap about 1/4" and attached the ribbon to one coaster centering them on both ends. Then I attached the second coaster using super tacky tape I bought from Taylor Van Bruggen's Blog. It is similar to the red super sticky mounting tape. The 6 plain squares were then attached to the backs of the sloted squares and the coaster covers inside using tape runner glue.

I didnt put pictures in this yet, but I intend to finish it for my DD as a gift.

Until Later ... Happy Stamping!

Item 4 for Cricut Challenge #1

On a thread I chat on on SplitCoast we decided to do a monthly challenge starting this month.

This month has 5 challenges. #4 on the challenge is make something using Orange and Brown to celebrate Thanksgiving. I have been wanting to make a star box since I saw it on Val Stangles Blog a few weeks ago. So this is the box I made. I didnt have a score pal so I had to score using my paper cutter.

The above link will take you to Vals blog it has a link to a great tutorial for the box. I modified my box slightly so It would work on a 8 1/2 x 11 piece of Kraft paper. I felt it would make a sturdy base for the box.

You really need to look at Vals blog to see a fantastic box. Mine is mediocre at best, and the only designer paper I had to work with the colors challenged was the Chocolate Chip Assortment I got from SU that is now retired. I colored the dots in with Real Rust, Old Olive & Summer Sun SU markers. I love doing this technique with the dots. I then cut some real rust colored Cardstock for the top half of the box. Next I attached the bottom of the star box to a piece of Really Rust cardstock with glue and then put a heavy roll of masking tape on top to apply downward pressure while the glue dried. When it was dry I trimmed the Really Rust cardstock even with the outside edge of the box, to form the bottom. Next I adhered the ribbon to the box. The acorn leaf border was cut at 2 1/2 inches using my Cricut Doodle charms Cartridge. I used my Water Color Wonder Crayons Basic Black and a fine tip aqua painter to add the lines and details( see small insert). then adhered it to the middle to cover the seam. I also used the Tag setting to cut 1 Acorn tag and 2 green leaf tags at 2 1/2", for leaving a little message. I tied the tags together using a 1/4" loopy satin brown ribbon and an Orange Organza 1/2" ribbon. I forgot to go dig out tissue paper to stuff in the box to give it a more finished look. I plan to put a little candy in this for a friend around Thanksgiving.

Until Later ...Happy Stamping!