Happy 4th Birthday Exploring Cricut and More!

Hello everyone!
Today is such a fun day for me! I get to post once again for Exploring Cricut and More!
This is a very special week as Exploring Cricut and More! is turning 4 years old!
I love this blog and all of the inspiration I receive each day! Diane is amazing!

For today's post I decided to embellish a gift bag using the Wrap it Up! Cricut Cartridge and  the Cricut Expression machine.

I used the Phrase feature including the layer to create the "You Take the Cake" sentiment cut at 6.5"
I also used the Tag feature including the blackout cut at 4.5".

I kept it simple and added just a bit of Glossy Accents and little gems.

Thank you for stopping by and don't forget to join in the challenge for the chance at some great prizes!

Pumpkin Basket for Exploring Cricut and More!

Good Morning everyone and Happy Saturday! How are you enjoying your weekend so far? Is it starting to look like fall where you are??

Diane has been very busy over at Exploring Cricut and More!creating a wonderful week of Halloween themed  projects. I was so happy she asked me to present a project for today.

I was looking thru my Cricut Cartridges and decided I wanted to try the Pumpkin Basket from the Tags, Bags, Boxes and More 2 Cartridge. I did use the Scoring Blade, but for this particular cut, it really wasn't necessary...not too many folds.

I cut the pumpkin at the recommended 9". I decided to ink the edges and add some florist wire for the "vine". I finished it off with an embossed tag and baker's twine.

Thank you for stopping by today. Please have a wonderful weekend!

Designer Challenge at My Creative Time!

Today's post is an entry for My Creative Time's! Designer Challenge.
The Challenge: "Please use this photo as your inspiration by using the photo OR the color combo OR BOTH!"

I decided to use the colors and add a little "twist" using the word lemon.

I used the following MCT products:

Fun Stitched Edges Dies

Trio Stitched Banners Dies

Alpha Pack Stamp Set

Some Days Simply Require Stamp Set

Cocktail Party Stitched Dies

The paper is from PTI

Check out the awesome projects created by Emma and her amazing Design Team Designer Challenge at My Creative Time!

Thank you for stopping by today! Have a wonderful week!

Nifty at 50! for Exploring Cricut and More!

Time for another challenge at Exploring Cricut and More!
This week's challenge is to create something birthday related and add some sparkle!
My hubby turned 50 today so it was an easy theme for me!

I used the card feature found on the Life's  a Party Cricut Cartridge.
I cut it at 5.0" used the layer feature. I embossed with the Cuttlebug and added a few gems.

Please take a few and join in our Birthday Challenge over at Exploring Cricut and More!
Thanks for stopping by today and have a wonderful week!

Fun with Tags for Exploring Cricut & More!

Good Morning and Happy Friday!

Today is my day to present a  project for Exploring Cricut & More!

We have been super busy planning one of our daughter's wedding reception so I thought I would share a little something we have been working on.

I used the TBBM Cartridge to mass produce this tag to attach to the little bags holing the utensils.
The tag is cut a 1.25"
The  stamps are from Paper Trey Ink.I finished them off with some Trendy Twine and distressed ink.

"Back to School" Challenge for Exploring Cricut and More!

Hello and Happy Monday!
Ok, I know Mondays aren't always the happiest, but I do have  new challenge to announce over at Exploring Cricut and More!
"Back to School" is the theme and all you have to do is create anything school related. Maybe it's a card, or tag, or note to put in a lunch box, perhaps a layout or pocket page for the first day of school. Maybe even a teacher gift or a gift card holder for your favorite student. Really....there are so many possibilities.
I have decided to share with you some bulletin board decor I have created for the boys. I normally only do these boards for the first few years of homeschooling.  (it will be different only having the two first graders since Sara has graduated and is starting college)

I used the Create a Friend Cartridge for the word art "Bookworm" and "Back to School", and the Sesame Street Seasons cartridge for the "Read" word art.  Since we embrace the classical method of education, our history for this year will be studying the Ancient Times. I thought it would be fun to have a bulletin board to showcase some of our projects and used the Cuttin Up cartridge for the font and the My World cartridge for the images.

Create a Friend Cartridge:
"Bookworm" found on page 8 and cut at 5.0" including the layers and shadow
"Back to School" found on page 4 cut at 5.0" including the layers and shadow

Sesame Street Seasons Cartridge:
"Read" found on page 56 and cut at 3.0" using the word feature

My World Cartridge:
"King Tut" and "Pyramids" found on page 49 and cut at 3.75" using the layer and shadow feature
"Parthenon" found on page 55 and cut at 5.0" using the layer and shadow feature.

For our science pocket chart I used the Cuttin Up Cartridge and cut the letters at 3.0" including the shadow.

Thank you for stopping by today and be sure to enter this week's challenge

"Our Harvest" for Exploring Cricut and More!

Good Morning My Fellow Crafters!
I am so happy to be posting today for Exploring Cricut and More!

Today's project reflects the wonderful bounty of our California garden.
Zucchini, Summer Squash and Cucumbers oh my!!
The tomatoes and corn are just about ready. The Swiss Chard and Beets are doing wonderfully too.

I have been sending the abundant extras with hubby to work and decided it was time for me to take some as well. Now, hubby is fine with a bag...however, I thought it would be fun to dress up a basket a bit. I work in a small educational bookstore and there are not very many of us, but most of us have big families and  appreciate home grown produce.

So, after looking thru some of my "summer" cartridges, I decided on the Garden Soup Cartridge. I loved the "Our Harvest" word art and the basket of veggies.

Images found on page 60 including the layer and phrase feature and cut at 5.0" I did some embossing, added some gems and twine.

Thank you for stopping by, please share with me your garden goodies, I would love to hear about what you grow and even a recipe or two. (I have eaten zucchini just about everyday for weeks)

Also, Monday is the start of a new challenge at Exploring Cricut and More! So please stop by and take a look.

Guest Designer for My Creative Time!

Hello everyone and thank you so much for stopping by today.  This day is especially exciting for me as I am so honored to be a  guest designer over at My Creative Time!

I have been a long time follower of Emma and have had enjoyed her creativeness, encouraging words and wonderful stamps and dies from the very beginning. 

Thank you Emma for having me as a guest designer today!

Now on to my projects!

I started with some PTI Vintage Cream cardstock and theBubble Gum Treat Box Die. Next, I used  the  Hexy Background Stamp to create my own background. Then I used the hexagon stamps found in the newly released You are Fabulous Stamp set to create some fun patterns. (I love the way they coordinate so easily, the Stitched Hexy Dies also coordinate with those stamp sets). For the tags, I used the Stitched Round Tab, Arrow & Tag Dies and again the You Are Fabulous Stamp set for the sentiments.
I used Hero Arts Shadow ink, PT I and Trendy Twine to finish the treat boxes.

Thank you again for taking the time to stop by  my little blog today. Have a wonderful weekend!

Winner of the Exploring Cricut and More! Blog Candy!

Hello and happy Monday evening!

The winner of the blog candy from the Christmas in July Blog Hop at Exploring Cricut and More! is....

 Linda H said...

Those tags are adorable! I plan on making tags for Christmas this year, so thanks for the inspiration!

July 28, 2014 at 10:01 AM

 

Congratulations....I hope you check back with your contact info!

Have a great week everyone!

Christmas in July Blog Hop for Exploring Cricut and More!

What a fun Monday! We have a new challenge at Exploring Cricut and More! and a fun blog hop too!
There are lots of fun goodies that are being given away, so you won't want to miss a thing!
You should have arrived from:
Faith: http://thecraftingprofessor.blogspot.com/

It's Christmas in July and what a way to take a break from summer and think of the cooler days ahead and holiday fun.

Believe it or not I have a little shopping finished and so I thought I would make the tags for the gifts.
I recently purchased the Teddy Bear Parade Cartridge and can I just say the images are  too cute. I needed 7 tags and there happened to be 7 images I could use that were either winter or Christmas themed.
The little bears were cut at 2.75" including the layers.
I went a little crazy with the Stickles and Glossy Accents. And of course a Cuttlebug embossing folder and  Trendy Twine were the perfect finish.

What's a blog hop without a little blog candy right? These little goodies are sure to help with the holiday spirit!  All you have to do is become a follower and leave a comment including your email address for a chance to win.

Next stop is:
Rae Ann: http://joyinart.blogspot.com/

Here is the blog hop line-up in case you get lost along the way:

Annette: http://mymindsdustbunnies.blogspot.com/
Sharon: http://meemeescreations.blogspot.com/
Faith: http://thecraftingprofessor.blogspot.com/
Donna: http://wwwkindredkreations.blogspot.com/
Rae Ann: http://joyinart.blogspot.com/
Emily: http://emilyqueenofallthingscrafty.blogspot.com/
Michelle N.: http://justanutterpapercrafter.blogspot.com/
Christi: www.tidbitsoftexas.com
Liz: http://unikbyyes.blogspot.com/
Tina: http://thescrappinrabbit.blogspot.com/
Katrina: http://scrappyhorses.blogspot.com/
Michelle S.: http://cricutcrazyscrapper.blogspot.com/
Diane: http://happyscrapperdiane.blogspot.com/

Good luck and be sure to enter our Christmas in July Challenge at Exploring Cricut and More!

Super Hero Gift Bag for Exploring Cricut and More!

Hello and happy Friday. I for one am glad the weekend is near!

My project for today is for Exploring Cricut and More! A fun blog devoted to creating crafty projects using all of our different die-cutting machines.

My project for today is using my Cricut Expression machine and my new Create a Friend Cartridge. This is the first time I have used the universal overlay and it worked out great, so easy.
The super hero is on page 37 and cut at 7.0" including the layers and I used the word image cut at 2.50" for the tag.

This cartridge has some really cute images, I am looking forward to making more soon.


Thank you for stopping by today, I hope your weekend is fabulous and you check back on Monday at Exploring Cricut and More! for a special challenge you will not want to miss!

Crafters Choice! Challenge at Exploring Cricut and More!

Welcome to another challenge over at Exploring Cricut and More!

Summer is in full swing....I am enjoying our time of less structure and trying to relax a bit more. But, I have to say that it sure is busy around here and my dreams of spending lots of extra time crafting doesn't seem to be happening as I had hoped. So this challenge was just perfect....how simple is this one??

Challenge :“Crafters Choice” Make a card, layout, or paper craft with at least two die cuts on it.

I am sharing a sign I made for the graduation party.
Using the Life's a Beach cartridge I created this "No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem" welcome sign.

I cut the letters at 3.75" and the images were cut at 5.0" including the layers.

A couple more pics of the table decor.

Thank you for stopping by today. Take a few moments to create a project of your choice for our challenge at Exploring Cricut and More!