I have a new LOVE! (craftwise, that is... LOL)

Even though I've been a true Cricut fan since they were first introduced 6 years ago, a friend of mine (also a Cricut user) kept talking about a new machine. The Silhouette Cameo.  I didn't really think I needed another die-cut machine, but finally decided I would at least "check it out".  Unlike the Cricut, the Silhouette connects to your computer to cut fonts or images.  And a feature I really like, you can use any True Type font on your computer!  :o)  There are several places on the Internet to obtain designs, including the Silhouette Online Store where most images are .99 cents each. There are even some sites that offer FREE designs for downloading.  What I think finally sold me on the machine was a little Gingerbread House Treat Box, that was available in the Silhouette Store. LOL 

Deciding to take the plunge, I ordered my new machine online, late on a Wednesday night, and it was delivered to my door by lunchtime that Friday. :o)  The software that comes with the machine is available online as a free download, so right after placing my order, I downloaded the software and started learning how to use it while waiting for my machine.  Personally, I found the software very user friendly, and I am amazed at what can be done with the sotware and this machine!  :o) 

I've spent a little over a week playing with it now, and here are a few of the items I've made so far:

Yes, this is the little Gingerbread Treat Box I mentioned.  :o)  The whole bottom section is a box that could be filled with such treats as Hershey Kisses, etc.

All images for this card came from the Silhouette Online Store, as one .99 cent download.  And I had no problem at all cutting the delicate border with the Silhouette. :o)

A little Tree Box, embossed with my Cuttlebug before assembling.  

I think the year would be cute on the license plate of the car!  And maybe a little tulle on the bride for a veil?

It's the Easter Bunny!

This is a Cracker Favor Box, which would hold small treats or a small gift.  (it slides apart to open)

Set of 3 "decorated" pumpkins.  These would be cute for any Fall, Halloween or Thanksgiving card or scrapbook page!



Thanks for looking!

Happy Halloween!

Hello everyone and Happy Halloween!

This is the Halloween card I made this year. My inspiration for this card came from the decorations at Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party (Disney World) and from a card made by this blogger: http://glorascrafts.blogspot.com/2010/10/mickey-mouse-pick-of-patch.html

For my card, I used the Cricut cartridges, Mickey & Friends, Martha Stewart's Seasonal Cake Art, and George. I started with the solid Mickey head icon, and using my Gypsy, I pieced together his face. I used two sizes of long ovals for the eyes (George) and welded them add the bottom. The nose and mouth are from another Mickey cut on M&F. For the nose, I used the same face, but reduced the size a bit and "hid" everything but the nose for the cut. That gave me a nose slightly smaller than the cutout on the pumpkin. The stem is from MS Seasonal Cake Art. (pg. 62 of the handbook) I shaded it some with my Copic marker. The shaded lines on the pumpkin were done with a VersaMark marker. Mickey is attached to the front of the card using Stampin' Up Dimensionals. The "bubbles" on the black square behind Mickey were done by using a MS punch around the page punch set.

The inside of the card was done with two $1.00 stamps I purchased at Michaels. They were stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black and then colored with Copics. Because the Copics can "bleed through", even on heavier cardstock, I stamped the design on a separate piece of cardstock matching the card. Then to give it a little something extra, I used another MS Punch Around the Page set to form the spider webs all around the edges.

On the back, I stamped a single kernel of candy corn in the middle, colored it with Copics and added my name and the year.

Thanks for looking!

Happy 2nd Birthday Nolan!

Today is Nolan's second birthday. In the above photo, you can see he can't wait to get his hands on that adorable cake! And he did.....just a second or two after that photo was taken, he grabbed the top layer. I'm guessing thinking he could pick it up. LOL My niece had this cake made at a local bakery, Piece of Cake.

Nolan is very much into the movie Cars right now, so I made his birthday card using my Disney Cars cartridge. This design is on page 32 of the handbook, and everything is cut 4" for the height. Because of so many small cuts on this design, I think going much smaller, could be difficult. To make this a shaped card, I used my Gpysy. I first made McQueen (the car) as a regular diecut. Then using the Shadow feature, after I had the shadow design on my screen, I duplicated and flipped the design. That gave me two shadow size cars in opposite directions. Because of the size I used, and the fact that I wanted the fold of the card at the back end of the car, I had to rotate the images 45 degrees, place them on the mat diagonally. Once they were rotated, I nudged them together using my stylus. Then finally, one at a time, I selected the image, and pressed the weld button. Note: to make sure it is welded, press the "eye" button and that will show you a red outline of where the blade will cut. Once I was happy with it, I cut it out, folded it in half, and using my ATG, attached the already completed car on the front.

Thanks for looking!

Giant Candy Corn Cookie

I love this new pan from Wilton! :o) I bought it at Target a few weeks ago, and finally had a chance to make one last night. You can't tell in the pictures I have posted, but this is one big cookie! (10.5" at the widest point, and 12.5" tall) There were no instructions on the back of the pan label, so I made a batch of chocolate chip cookie dough using the recipe on the back of the Toll House Semi-Sweet chocolate chips, and pretty much followed their instructions for for a pan cookie. (I used the mini chips in my cookie) Even though this is a non-stick surface pan, I applied a light coat of Crisco to ensure my cookie did not stick. Unsure of how much dough to put in the pan, I put the whole batch in there! LOL Needless to say, I ended up with a pretty thick cookie! (about 1") Looking back, I would say you could probably get two Candy Corn cookies from one batch of dough. To frost the cookie, I made a batch of Buttercream frosting, using meringue powder. I divided the frosting into 3, and added gel food coloring to two of the parts. (making the orange and yellow) I then used disposable piping bags, and starting with the white, piped the frosting on the cookie, pretty much filling in the area. After that, I used an offset spatula the smooth it out more evenly. And last I laid a paper towel over the frosting, and gently rubbed or patted, to give it a very slight, even texture. I was a little concerned I may have over cooked it, trying make sure it was done all the way through. But it seems to have been just right. :o) I baked it about 25 mins. at 350.

Thanks for looking!

Happy Fall Y'all!

Fall is here, and it's time to decorate for Halloween! :o) This is a piece of Subway Art, framed in an 8" x 10" frame. (frame purchased from JoAnn's) To help me get started, I used the Halloween design on the new Cricut Projects Cartridge, Word Collage. In order to "make it my own", I used my Gypsy to delete the words I didn't want to use, and add in the designs/words I did want. Once I had the design completed, I cut it from vinyl. (all settings on 3) While leaving the design on the mat, I removed all the excess vinyl, leaving just the design on the cutting mat. (this step is sometimes referred to as weeding) Next, cover the design with transfer tape, and rub all over, then gently lift the design off the mat. Using transfer tape enables you to keep all the letters in place and spaced properly. I then transferred the design to a piece of Halloween pattern paper by positioning the art on the paper, then burnishing (rubbing) all over. After you've gone over the whole design, begin in one corner and carefully pull back the transfer tape, leaving the art on the paper.

Thanks for looking!

New Dollar Stamps at Michaels

Have you seen the new $1.00 Halloween stamps at Michaels?! :o) They are sooo cute! Here are the ones I picked up last weekend. I just had to try one out, so I chose the little witch. I need more practice with my Copics, (it's been a while) but I think she turned out pretty cute. :o)

Thanks for looking!