Pictures with Santa

Here is a very cute layout I found online and I incorporated some of my own touches…some chalking, some glitter and some bling!!! I hope you like it. I think the site was Michigan Scrapbooking. If you would like to make this site, you can let me know what names you would like me to use with my Make the Cut software using the new Print and Cut technique, I will add your children’s and or pets names to the Santa list, also I used Make the Cut program to do the Santa will be back at 1 stop sign! I love this program and I will be happy to help any of you learn how to use this wonderful software…It is awesome to use with our Cricuts or whatever die cutting machine that you may have. Make the Cut works on many of these die cutting machines. So here’s the layout:

Not sure why but the colors are way off on this picture, the sleigh is fire engine red, and on the mats, the corners are a deep almost burgandy red. The trees are Christmas green and a shade lighter green in the middle. I added some glitter to the trees, the list on the sleigh include my children’s names and our pets!

Recipe: (4) 3 3/4 x 6 photo mats

The snow is a 2 1/2 x 12 inch strip that I put the pieces back to back and then cut my hills and valleys. The papers used are glitter papers that you can purchase at our local scrapbooking store SCRAPS!

See how neat the stop sign, it was printed first and then using the Make the Cut sofware, I placed the paper on my mat, lining it up with the virtual mat that was on my screen, and presto, hit cut and you see it…perfectly cut stop sign with printing on it….did I say I love this program????

Vinyl

Hey everyone…are you all done shopping yet? We are almost done, I just have to get my baby girls presents, and hubby’s and then finished…I am working on a few projects for the mom’s I babysit for, and some friends…maybe even you…so I can’t post them yet, but hopefully after Christmas, I can post some pictures of my homemade gifts.

Here is an idea that someone shared in the Make the Cut gallery and I loved her idea, and she even shared the file, so all I had to do was modify for my Christmas gift…my oldest girl is a teacher in China and her special treat to herself is a trip to the nearest Starbucks, so I thought, she’s always collecting their cups, but this is one she can’t buy from them :) Please leave me a comment and let me know how you like this. I used car vinyl on her cup and as long as she hand washes it, it should last for a very long time! Enjoy!

Cocoa Cozy Layout

Here is another layout that I did a couple of weeks ago, I can’t remember the name of the site I got it from, I think I posted it in a previous post, so you can look back there and see where I got it, she has some really cute and easy to put together layouts. On this layout, used part of a file from http://treasureboxdesigns.com/  (the chocolate sticks)and some I just used my favorite software MTC to create..…the mug and snowflakes, and the whipped cream. I don’t thing the picture does it justice as far as being able to see the details in the cuts with inking or chalking the pieces. This would be an adorable layout to add pictures of your kids sitting watching their favorite Christmas movie or when they’ve come in from the cold with red noses and cheeks and sipping some hot chocolate. Enjoy!

Give Thanks Layout

Hi Everyone, so I was online a few weeks ago, and I came across this site that had the most adorable layouts…and so I just had to make them. She totally allows others to scraplift her ideas, so that is so cool, she just doesn’t want us to sell them as ours…so I like her layouts and then of course as we all do, I modify them to go with my way of scrapbooking. I can’t remember her site, her name is Kate or Katie…so thank you for sharing your site…and if I come across it, I will post it to share with all of you. In the meantime enjoy this layout.

Mat sizes on here are 4x6 and 4 1/4 x 6 1/4, Strips for one of the patterns is 4 1/2 and for the other is 6” and then for the cardstock it’s the same, one is 4 1/2 and the other is 6”

The picture doesn’t do it much justice, but the cornucopia, is 3 layers, it was done with the new print and cut technique using Make the Cut. I had a hard time getting them to line up so had to use my scissors to remove some pieces of white. I like how they came out…but I am hoping with a little more practice I can get a nice clean cut every time. I had to use, I think her name is Kaye’s hinge method to cut some of them as I was wasting a lot of paper. It seems that if you are doing one image, the print and cut technique works just fine, but more than one image, the cut shifts. Hopefully I can figure this out, because I cut so many pieces that I need to be able to have it work right every time :) or close to every time…no one likes to waste paper!

Here is the layout that we did at Scrapmania, I think it was another one of Katie’s ideas, with some of my own modifications to it.

I also used Make the Cut to cut my little Christmas bulbs and this picture doesn’t do it justice as the string is glittery crochet cotton, and I used some little flat beads that I purchased at Michaels and I colored them with my Copic markers. I believe the paper is Close to my Heart and Scenic Route. Even my font was made with the Make the Cut software…it resembles Storybook, don’t you think?

New Cricut Cartridges!

So Provo Craft has announced 6 more new cartridges coming out soon. Some are “I gotta have” cartridges and some I’m a little disappointed in while others are excited about them. I was very disappointed in the Car Decal. There isn’t anything on that cartridge that I’d want to put on any of our vehicles, but I’m sure, there are some who will think this is an awesome cartridge…but how many of those images are you actually going to use?

Now Paper Lace, this is a very nice cartridge and I have seen some already cool projects made with this cartridge…I think this one will be a great cartridge to get…especially for cardmakers.

Sesame Street Seasons, I think it’s an adorable cartridge. It wouldn’t be my first pick, but it’s got potential. I know it would be cute on some layouts, but again, I was thinking of a couple of card ideas that would be cute with some of those images.

Quarter Note, is also a nice cartridge, but again, how many times will you use it? I don’t know, maybe it’s just me, but once I cut that Saxophone, that I need for my son’s layout, what else will I use that cartridge for?

That’s why I like Make the Cut and Scal, because if I only need an item I can purchase just the one item or create it myself. I can’t say enough about these two wonderful softwares. With these softwares available, it makes scrapbooking possibilities, endless. I have done so much more since acquiring these softwares. The reason why I say these, is because I originally started with SCAL, but I have to say, that I am only using Make the Cut now. I enjoy this program and yet I have used SCAL for some things as I can do a little better in that program than in Make the Cut, with that said, Make the Cut is my software of choice.

Paper Lace Cartridge

This cartridge features intricate paper cuts that are perfect as backgrounds, accents, or even focal points for your projects. You will also love the playful font that was designed to coordinate with the main designs.

Click Here for the .pdf handbook.

Wrap it Up Cartridge

Celebrate in style with the Wrap It Up cartridge! This present themed cartridge is filled with layered images for several occasions plus coordinating boxes, cards, and tags. It also contains fifty themed phrases with layers that you can add to layouts, cards, and other projects.

Click HERE for the .pdf handbook.

Sesame Street Seasons Cartridge

Celebrate the changing weather with the Sesame Street Seasons cartridge! This playful cartridge is filled with images of Elmo, Big Bird, Zoe, Grover, and other Sesame Street favorites as they have fun throughout the year. The cartridge also contains layered props and words in English and Spanish for every season!

Click HERE for the .pdf handbook.

Ornamental Iron Cartridge

Add a stately look and feel to your creative projects with the Ornamental Iron cartridge! The intricate gates and windows are perfect for creating sophisticated projects for weddings, family reunions, anniversaries, and other occasions. With coordinating fonts, this cartridge is a wonderful asset for your crafts.

Click Here for the pdf.

Car Decals Cartridge

Personalize the family vehicle with the Car Decals cartridge! This quirky cartridge is filled with whimsical images of family life such as riding bikes, participating in sports, and other activities. You can also use the icons, phrases, and font to decorate your car, windows, or creative projects to your liking.

Click HERE for the .pdf handbook.

Quarter Note Cartridge

Music lovers will absolutely adore the Quarter Note cartridge! This shape cartridge is filled with music themed images, phrases, and fonts. Whether you have a pianist, violinist, or other musician in your family, this cartridge is certain to meet your musical needs.

Click HERE for the .pdf handbook.

Halloween Ghost treat card and Hanging Out With Layout….

I saw this card on Kelly’s blog and thought it was the cutest little card and I made mine a tad bit different. It was a lot of fun…we did it Saturday morning as a Make and Take at SCRAPS in Houlton…Thank you Kelly for sharing your card with all of us here in Maine.

So here’s our version of Kelly’s card…I only had 2 cardmakers on Saturday, and one was I believe the youngest student we have had so far…He is only 6 years old and he made an adorable card. He definitely has talent, be sure to check out the layout he did on Monday night. Yup, he came back to our class on Monday evening and he did a fantastic job! It’s nice to see the creativity of these young kids. So enjoy our cards and our layouts.

Treat cup is from Stampin Up, stamp is from the G series and instead of heat embossing we just used the versa mark, to create some depth on our card. The ghost was cut from Make the Cut, the RiP was cut from Wild Cards cartridge.

This first layout was the color that I had originally planned to do, but once I had it on my table, I wasn’t sure if I liked it, so I kyboshed it and went with my second choice, which I will be posting below. When I had this paper on the table, a couple of the girls commented on the colors and so I decided to throw it together after all…this layout will be down to SCRAPS for sale for $12.00, all you have to do is add your own pictures and any journaling.

  Isn’t this the cutest little monkey ever? Oops I just noticed I forgot to put the bows on this page, guess I best go do that right now :)

So here’s the page I did for the class, I think I like them both, what’s your opinion. We love to read your comments so please be sure to leave them. Thanks, Enjoy the rest of the girls/and young men’s layouts.

 

So here’s our youngest scrapbookers layout…way to go Collin! 

All the cut pieces in these layouts were done with svg files and cut with Make the Cut software.

Print N Cut

Make the Cut is one of the best programs out there! I use Make the Cut for all my scrapbooking and cardmaking projects. Below you will find a tutorial video that I made a while ago showing you how I do my print and cut with my Cricut using Make the Cut. It is a little different than how some people do it, but it is very accurate and you only have to print the colors you need, the size you need or the pattern you want without putting a whole 12x12 piece of paper on your mat or cutting one up when you only need a little piece of it and then having to store it. I also love Lettering Delights for my pattern papers, I have learned another little trick to make it work better so be watching for a new tutorial in the next few weeks when I get back home. I am currently staying with my dad in Florida, where he is beginning taking Chemotherapy. I would accept all prayers on his behalf as it has been a very difficult time for him, losing our mom in June and now him finding out he has Cancer just before they were to do heart surgery…so now that’s on hold and we will deal with the Cancer first.

This is a repost of my first tutorial I did on Print and Cut

Technorati Tags: Make the Cut,Cricut,Print N Cut,Treasurebox Designs

So recently Provo Craft introduced their brand new Cricut Imagine on HSN, and I for one thought I had to have it. I liked the concept of being able to have my cuts already colored, shadowed and even patterned and ready to go. I had my Cricut Imagine in the shopping cart…but I really believe God had a different plan for me. You see a year ago, someone stole my identity and tried to purchase items for HSN, Apple store and Reebok…luckily for me, I checked my bank account first thing in the morning and found my account had been emptied, and not only mine but my husbands and daughters as well as me owing the bank over $400. If I hadn’t checked my account that morning, that crook may have gotten away with it, but I was able to call HSN and let them know it wasn’t me placing the order. Apparently because of that, there was a block placed on any orders being shipped to my address, which would require me speaking to a customer service representative. So when I placed my Imagine in my cart, it wouldn’t let me complete the purchase, and so I called and was told it could take up to 7 days to have this straightened out. Well by that time, the price went up about $100! I was not going to pay that much when I already have a Cricut. Plus the Imagine will not work with Make the Cut or Surecutsalot ! I use those programs for all my cuts, I just couldn’t go back to cartridges! So I said there has to be a way for me to be able to do the same idea with what I already have…so I purchased a HP wide format printer, and played with a couple of ideas…with that said, Make the Cut will soon have an awesome update where we will be able to do print and cut almost exactly like the Imagine…I can’t wait, but in the meantime here is my version. Enjoy!

Print and Cut with your Cricut

Trick or Treat Layout

Oh my goodness, this is like the cutest little layout we’ve done in quite sometime…I am so in love with these little characters. So after a week of straight cutting to prepare for the class, I cut 7 characters, a bee, dog, cat, ghost, pumpkin, dragon, bunny and trees, sidewalk, grass, house siding and of course a full moon!

On my layout, I haven’t decided if I am going to use any mats on my page, or just put my pictures on, so here is my layout without the mats…and if I add mats, I will retake the photo. As soon as the other girls email me their photos, I will post them.  Oh I almost forgot…I purchased and HP wide format printer and I absolutely love it…and I just found out that the ink is waterproof…so how exciting is that…my background paper was a print that I had purchased for a baby layout, and it was originally a pastel blue, I scanned it and played with my contrasts and colors and this is what I ended up with, can I say I love it! Yup I do!!!!! Please leave a comment if you like any of our pages.

I used Make the Cut and my Cricut for the cutting of this layout.

For now Enjoy!

Leaf Jumpin

So we are back on schedule with our classes resuming at SCRAPS! Tonight’s layout was a long the lines of a more primitive layout, with an old crow, prim sunflowers, prim colored papers, with chalking and using pen for added dimensions. I used MTC to create all the cuts for this layout. I used vinyl for the second page of the title “Jumpin” and on the first page, we used Maya Road spray mist to the green title “Leaf”, and on my layout I wanted to add just a little more, so when I got home I dug out my Copic markers and used my sprayer to add some more primitive/fall like colors onto my title. I really liked how it came out.

I forgot my camera again tonight :( so as soon as the girls email me their layouts, I will post them. Each one came out so nice, and I think this has definitely got to be the quickest class we ever had…we were done before 8 pm! Here is my layout: Enjoy!

FALL Layout

October 4th Class….Yay, it’s on :) Scrapbooking night at SCRAPS in Houlton. We have taken the summer off and a few of us met throughout the summer doing some layouts and cards and I think we had a really nice time getting together and sharing ideas. Since our break, I think there has been 2 Scrapmania’s and one retreat at Toni’s camp…so much fun getting together and scrapping, sharing some details of our lives, laughing, eating, crying, scrapping, eating ( oh did I say that already, it seems at everyone of these events, we have the best food ever) If you have never gone to a Scrapmania or a Retreat…you should…it is the most relaxing time ever and with great company with the same goals of getting some nice scrapbooking pages made.

Be watching for SCRAPS big announcement…it is so exciting, if you haven’t heard already….I think you will see some new and exciting things happening at our little store. So be watching.

Onto this week’s class…I want to thank Dina L…for her wonderful cut files. We have been working together to help turn them also into MTC files, making it easier for you to have all your pieces ready to cut, add paper, hit cut…how easy peasy is that?

Recipe for Fall layout:

4 Choc Chip Cardstock cut at 6 1/4 x 4 1/4

2 Green Cardstock (your choice) 6 x4

2 PP (your choice) 6 x 4

2 Choc Chip Cardstock 4 1/4 x 4 1/4

2 Cream or Tan or Lt brown 4 x 4

2 Cream or Tan or Lt Brown 3 x 11 3/4

2       “                        “ 4 1/2 x 11 3/4

2 PP ( your choice)   4 x 11 3/4

If you like the effects, I chalk all my pieces to add a little extra dimension to it. I leave about about a 1/4 inch border all the way around my layout, and in between the strips that I have on this layout. I used the Cuttlebug on my top borders, and my 4 x4  mats.

Charlie Chaplin Wall Decor cut with my Cricut

I have been waiting for quite sometime to take this wall cut down to my brothers’ studio down in Portland. He just built a brand new recording studio where he produces and records audio books. I wanted to create something very special for him and for his studio so I searched and searched to find a character that would fit both his decor and a little of his perosnality…so here it is my cut of Charlie Chaplin…Love you Bill, also known as  “Bob the Builder”, my brother for several years was the voice of the infamous Bob the Builder and several other characters, such as the pizza man, and one of the machines I think.        Enjoy!

 

Here it is on the wall with my brother! (always the actor)

Boy N Boot

So with my favorite software, MTC, I tried my hand at making a cut file from a photograph…after 8 hours of working on it…here is my first attempt (mind you, I couldn’t find my glasses so my faces are a tad, lets say not so great) :(

And this is my second attempt…still need a little more work to get it to where I will like it. Feel free to leave your comments.

I think if I can fix my head, I will be very happy with the rest of it, thanks for looking!

Another Monday night making cards

Here’s some cards that one of my younger girls made and allowed me to take pictures of her cards to share with all of you. She did a very good job…be sure to comment below and let her know how good she did. Enjoy!

Make a card Monday

So we had another Monday night class with 7 wonderful ladies, and 2 sweet younger ladies attending…each one making a few beautiful cards. Our first card of the evening was a scraplift that I saw, and modified it a little with files that I already had, and then I had to even change them a tad to make it the way I liked it, using Make the Cut software, (have I said lately how much I love this program)?

So our first card of the evening was entitled “Snail Mail”, a perfect card for those of us who procrastinate and forget to mail that birthday card or if you always send email, how about a card for that special someone, cause we all know a card in the mailbox would be a great pick me up! Enjoy!

Snail Mail

 

 

Our second card of the evening was supposed to be using a technique called “faux bleaching”. It is a really neat technique, however, I thought when it called for glossy cardstock, I thought the writer meant photo paper. Although embossing on photo paper is really pretty, it didn’t work for what I was trying to accomplish. So we decided to table that card for another week and we did a fall card, still using Tim Holtz reinker dyes. We used the Maple Leaf Cuttlebug die cut/embossing folder, photo paper and reinkers. Sentiments for the cards were picked from a variety of stamps that our dear friend Ruby had brought with her…she is a Close to my Heart demonstrator and she has hundreds of beautiful stamps. So enjoy our cards as each one came out a little different.