December 15th

Welcome to Erica's Craft Room

25 Days of Christmas,

with 25 Cricut projects a day.

Don't forget to stop by Erica's blog to see 24 more projects today....

and every day in December.

http://mycricutcraftroom.blogspot.com

For my projects I made a card and a gift box.

My gift box is the Christmas Tree from Tags Bags Boxes and More.

 

I used paper with a glitter design from DCWV's Doodlin Around stack and cut the tree at 13.37 x 7.73.   I made a pouch with plastic I had laying around, filled it with glitter and then taped it inside the box.  I made a sample cut and used it as a layer inside the box to cover the glitter pouch, for a neater finish inside the box.    If I had to do this tree again, I think I would try to move the opening to the other side of the tree so you don't see where the box folds together.    I wrapped some funky yarn around the trunk of the tree then added a tag.   I used Winter Lace to cut the snowflakes at  2.10 x 2.20 and then attached them to a round circle.   I then secured it to the box with more funky yarn that I also tied around the box.

For my card I used the Christmas Cartridge and Winter Frolic.

I saw this somewhere on the internet and really liked the idea so here is my version.    I made a shaped card using the base.  I placed 2 on my Gypsy mat, sized at 5.5 H by 3.62, flipped one and welded together.   I then cut out the top layer the same size.     The presents are from Winter Lace and cut from Stampin Up Paper.   The base size was 2.40 x 2.57.

To put this together I first covered the top tree layer with Opalite Pigment Sterling Frost ink, then added embossing powders and heat set.  I then added some Studio G Red and Green Bling to the tree.   I put the presents together and attached them to the side of the tree.

I really like the idea of this card but not the finished product.   If I were to make this again, I would probably place the tree base with the present base on my mat and weld those together and then making that the welded shape card.  It stands up nicely as it is but just seems flimsy because of the tiny bit that is welded on the tree..  It might also be better suited to a larger card, mine is 4.25 x 5.5.    

I hope you are enjoying all the wonderful projects in 25 Days of Christmas Projects.

Laurie

December 14th

Welcome to Erica's Craft Room

25 Days of Christmas,

with 25 Cricut projects a day.

Don't forget to stop by Erica's blog to see 24 more projects today....

and every day in December.

http://mycricutcraftroom.blogspot.com

For my project I made 2 ornaments.   The first ornaments I made using Winter Lace and Vinyl.

Vinyl is really easy to cut on the cricut, not so easy to put on a round ornament.   I found that the more delicate snowflakes were much easier to place on the ornament than the more full shaped ones.  

First I took my ornaments and filled them with Delta Creamcoat Varnish.  It is pretty thick but it works, it probably just takes a lot longer to let the varnish drip out than if you used the floor stuff.   I wasn't very patient and probably should have let the excess drip out longer.   I then poured in Martha Stewart Blue Sapphire Glitter and let it dry.

To cut out the vinyl snowflakes I used the kiss cut.   The kiss cut means you do not cut through the backing paper and that makes it much easier to work with.  I used Stampin Up Vinyl and their transfer paper.

I cut Accent 4 at 2.11 x 2.417 and Snowflake 6 at 2.22 x 2.417.   I also tried to cut Accent 6 and Star and those were a major pain to put on the ornament.   I set my expression at  Blade 3, Speed 1 and Pressure 2.   Once it is cut, you get to pick out all the tiny pieces so that the only thing left on the backing is the snowflake. I cut a piece of transfer paper to fit the snowflake and placed it sticky side down on my snowflake and went over it with my scissors handle to make sure the transfer paper was stuck to the snowflake.    Now remove the backing paper and you are ready to carefully place the snowflake on the ornament.  It works best to start from the center and work your way out.    

I then added a beaded hanger that I made a few years ago and pulled some thick silver tulle through the top of the ornament and tied a knot.

My 2nd Ornament is a Baby's First Christmas Ornament.   

I used a block from a set that I picked up at Salvation Army.   I sanded the paint to rough it up and then used  a thin coat of Modge Podge to adhere paper from Recollections Holiday Traditions 4.5 x 6.5 paper pack.   I  use pieces that are cut a bit bigger and I then cut the paper off using a finger nail file.  I like the sanded edges but I had to be more careful this time because of the photo printed on photo paper would not appreciate being sanded.   After all the pieces were attached I went over all the edges with Walnut Distress Ink.  

I then cut out a tiny 1st using A Child's Year cut at .569 x .833 welded and Stamped Christmas on the block.   The tree is from Winter Frolic (Tree 3-s) cut at 1.125 x 1.736.  I then cut 2- 2010 from George and Basic Shapes at 1.569 x .944 out of gold paper to use as a charm for the ornament.

To finish the ornament I screwed a tiny screw eye into the center of the block then attached the charm using a couple of jump rings and tied a bow and a hanger using some gold ribbon.

I'm not sure how this will hold up over time.  I would like to put a protective finish on it, but I am not sure what I should use.   If you have an idea, I would love to hear about it in a comment.

Laurie

December 2nd

Welcome to Erica's Craft Room

25 Days of Christmas,

with 25 Cricut projects a day.

Don't forget to stop by Erica's blog to see 24 more projects today....

and every day in December.

http://mycricutcraftroom.blogspot.com

Today I have a layout to show you.   I used Winter Frolic along with Recollections, ColorBok, and Coredination papers.

The 2 boys are both cut at 4 inches.   I used a white Gelly Roll pen to add some faux stitching to the boy with the snowball.   I sanded the sled to give it some dimension and added some Silver Gelly Roll pen to the skis.

Snow much fun is cut at 6.139 x3.556 and I cut one in brown to use as a shadow.  I just offset it a bit and then just the white gelly pen to add faux stitching to the word snow.

The North Pole is cut at 7.472 x 8.347.   I cut all layers except the green tree layer in the same color blue card stock.   I used the cuttlebug embossing folder with dots to add dimension to one of the 3 top pieces and then went over it lightly with stickles, I also went around the other two with stickles.    I opted to leave the North Pole off of my layout because I want to use it to put the month and year at a later time.    

I then layered a photo mat over the bottom portion of the North Pole mountains.

Winter with snow is by far my favorite season and I simply cannot wait to show my grandson just how much fun it is to play in the snow, so this layout was made with that in mind.

Don't forget to check out all the other 25 days of projects!

Laurie