Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Okay, new addiction...well not really new, but just bigger. I'm totally addicted to all the incredibly creative things my Cricut Expression can do. (And NO I don't get paid by Provo Craft!!)


Here is a birthday cake my daughter Hailey and I are working on for her brother Ashton. He'll turn 18 on the 29th of this month and we've been cutting and gluing and assembling for a while now. It takes a while for a 12 yr old to cut all 20 cake pieces, score them, fold them, and then glue them...especially when her favorite TV shows are on LOL :)
Anyway, Hailey used my Cricut (Tags Bags Boxes and More cartridge) to cut 20 cake pieces and she put each one together. Then I glued the "bottom layer" to the cake board (I bought that at Walmart in a multipack...not very expensive.)
Then I cut the "frosting" layer for the middle (which I don't think you can even see) and then the frosting from the top. I then decorated it with his name and all that "jazz." I also cut scallops to use as icing around the outside of the cake on both layers, kind of like the icing is dripping out and over. I can't put those on until after we put the goodies in each cake slice or we won't be able to open them. We're putting things in the slices like candy, happy birthday wishes, and gift cards.

We will give it to him in an actual cake box, also purchased as Walmart for only $2. I think it's a fun way to give something different birthday gift. Especially right now when none of us have a lot of money, but as a crafter, I have TONS of paper (LOL!!) I know it may not be Ashton's favorite gift for his 18th birthday, but he will know that we love him and were thinking about him. He is also a very talented artist so he'll appreciate the time and effort that went into make it.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Some projects I've done




Here are two cards I made using my Cricut Expression and the Wild Card cartridge. I still like making cards my "old" way, but this is fun too. It gives me more options and I like that.
The clipboard is for a friend of mine and I used vinyl to decorate it (after I painted it pink of course.) I'm going to do a mini scrapbook page about the kitties for her.
My next project is a birthday cake made out of paper for Ashton...pictures to follow. It's a two layer cake (lots of cuts with the Cricut) and hopefully it will turn out really cool. The neat thing is that each "slice of cake" can hold a small gift, so we'll be filling it up with candy and little goodies and some gift cards....it's his 18th birthday. All the cake slices are cut and assembled, now I just need to put them on the cake board and put on all the icing and decorations.
THEN, because I can never be without another project to work on LOL, I am going to do a small window (kind of like the window in my previous post, but smaller) for my grandparents. My grandma is in a nursing home and doesn't have a lot of personal things in her room, so hopefully I can get the window painted tomorrow and then work on the pictures and embellishments so that it's all ready for when we leave on Friday to go up North. We'll get to see them on Sunday. I can't wait. I love giving unusual gifts and especially handmade things!!


Tuesday, August 10, 2010

I'm so excited!!

I've been really tired lately (darn fibromyalgia) so I haven't been doing much except going to work and trying (mostly unsuccessfully) to do things around the house. I've had the creative urge, but by the time I get to my table, there's no energy left. While my card orders are caught up (for the time being) my house is a disaster. BUT I'm not writing this blog to complain. I am excited because change is on the way...

I've been thinking of ways to make my life more productive without give up sleep (LOL.) I've kind of broken down the hours in my day...and I'm looking at what I NEED to do, what I WANT to do and what I can throw out. I am not silly enough to think I can/will/want to give up my computer time (at least not all of it) or even all my TV time...but I have a plan. Okay, it's an outline of a plan, but I'm hoping it works. I need a lot of structure and if the plan works I'll have that and can get more done:)

What I'm REALLY excited about it all the great videos I found on YouTube today about the Cricut Expressions and things beyond the scrapbook page and cards that I can do with it. I already have one project lined up to do wall out for one of my good friend's little girl. (Using vinyl for wall decorations...you know, words and things like that.) I also have the stamp material so that I can cut my own stamps with my Cricut....WOW!! I saw videos today of using the Cricut to cut a stencil to decorate (with fabric paint) a t-shirt....I could go on and on.

I'm feeling really creative and that feels good!! The other excitement is that I'm on vacation next week and not going anywhere!! I can't wait!! I will have quiet days to "get my act together" and get my plan rolling.

I'll be posting some pictures soon...maybe even today, of some cards I've been working on and I'll have lots of other things to show you soon!!