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 1st

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

I am so excited to be part of 25 days in December.

I totally experimented cutting fabric with the Cricut, no idea what I was going to make or how it would turn out and I ended up with a Poinsettia Pin.

Supply list.

1. Fabric that has been washed, dried and ironed.
2. A sticky Mat
3. A blade that is brand new or one that is dedicated for cutting fabric.
4. A deep set housing blade, if you have it.
5. An iron that you don't care if it gets gunked up.
6. Iron on interfacing.  For this I used Steam a Seam 2 because I had it and wanted to see if it would work.
7. Stickles
8. Brad
9. Pin finding, look in the jewelry area at the craft store

After preparing the fabric for cutting, I placed the fabric with the Steam a Seam down on the mat.    I used the deep set blade and my settings were Blade 6, Pressure 5, Speed 1 and Multi-cut 2.

My poinsettia is cut from the Christmas cartridge at 5.16 x 3.81.  It cut really well.   I didn't like that the back was sticky and ugly so I decided to iron my cut out pieces to the piece of fabric that was left over after cutting.   I had to hand cut the poinsettias out but it was relatively easy using the cut pieces as a guide.  So, now I had a bunch of double sided poinsettia leaves and didn't know what to do with it.   I figured it was another one of my many projects that failed and then I decided that I could probably add some dimension by folding and ironing just the tips.  Somehow I managed to not burn my fingers.  I then outlined the edge of each piece with stickles.  I sort of painted it on using and eye shadow thing.   I was going to sew this together and put on the front of a felted wool eye glass case but didn't really love that idea and decided to make a pin instead. 

To make the pin I pierced the center of each piece so I could put a brad through it and then attached the pin putting the brad through the center hole in the pin finding.  I also hand sewed the bottom piece to the pin to make sure it was secure.    I added stickles to the brad and added a few dots.

I decided that I was going to give this to my mom when I saw her at Thanksgiving and made this box to wrap up the pin.

To make the box I used the inside part of the matchbox, box from Tags Bags, Boxes and More.   I used my gypsy and put 2 on the mat, then I made one a bit smaller so it would fit together better.   The cut sizes were 6.26 x 4.65 and 6.22 x 4.62.   I used paper from a Recollections cardstock stack.

To make the bow I used the scallop border from Winter Frolic to make strips for the bow.   To do this, you have to weld 2 of the borders together flipping one so you have a scallop on both sides.  I grouped those together and copied several more that I welded together to make longer strips.  The size of the scallop border welded was 1.75 x .50, after welding more together my strips were 6.85 x .50.    To put the bow together I cut my strips as I went.   The center piece is first, you will need to punch a small hole on each end and make a loop putting a brad through both holes.   Cut the 2nd piece and make a loop and punch a hole through the center and add it to the first, then do the same with the 3rd strip.  Open the brad to secure.

I had extra of the strip so I used it along with a strip of green paper to make a paper ribbon for the box.   The red paper is from Stampin up.

I hope my project inspires you to experiment and try new things because you never know what you will end up with.   My mom loved the pin.

Laurie

Recipe and Baking Blog Hop

Welcome!   You should have come from Sheila's Blog, if not you may have missed some great inspiration and will want to start from My Cricut Craft Room so you don't miss anything awesome.


For my first project, I have started a Kid Tested Recipe Book.   My grandson is  15 months and not quite old enough yet to help grandma but definitely needs some high chair activities.  Grandma needed a break from chasing him around the house and decided to look for some fun recipes.   So I made him a very basic flour and salt play dough.   He was still a bit too young but he still liked squishing it around in his hands.   What he didn't like was the taste.  It was so funny and I didn't get a picture.   Each time I get to babysit, I am going to look for a recipe for something fun to play (make a mess) with or eat and add a new page to our recipe book.  I am putting them in a 3 ring binder that has a sleeve on the cover. I have a lot ideas that are not necessarily going to be mom approved.  :)

I purposely made my cover super simple because I plan to have Austin help me decorate it when I make finger paints.    I used Cricut Craft Room Basics to cut the letters and used the paper company value pack card stock.


I used the Font Tool for "Kid Tested" "Recipes" and cut at 1 inch.   I really like the ability to use a text box for simple text but it doesn't work well if you want to play with the placement a bit, so, the rest of the letters I didn't use the text feature and just placed them on the mat.  And is cut at .5, With is cut at .875, Grandma is cut at 1.6 and all words welded.  Austin is cut at 1.08


For my first page, again, I purposely made it super simple.   I really want to keep this album fun and really hope that Austin will want to help make pages later on.  The only cricut cut on this page is the word bubble, cut at 3.056 x 2.125 from craft room basics.  I then added a note from Austin.   I used paper from a really old pack of paper and matted the photo and recipe on red cardstock.

My next projects are also super simple.   I'm the family baker and candy maker so I'm always looking for new recipes and trying new things.  And I am super excited that I can make super simple things to package up some of my treats.   

I cut the popcorn box from Tags Bags Boxes & More cut at 11.40 x 6.45.   
Scalloped circle 2.42 x 2 from A Child's Year and a 2.14 x 2 circle from George and Basic Shapes.  I then cut a snowflake from Winter Lace cut at 1.66 x 1.81.    Patterned paper is from Stampin Up, the red and cream paper is from my stash.      If you have not made boxes before they are really simple, just make sure you get a good fold and use strong adhesive.


I also made a tag from Winter Frolic cut at 2 x 3 and attached another snowflake.   On the back of the tag I will put the link to the recipe.


Chocolate Popcorn.   Super easy to make and unfortunately for me, really easy to eat. 


The treat bag is also super simple.   I used the same tag from Winter Frolic but cut at 3 x 3 and added another of the snowflakes with some red stickles for the center.  I used the little treat bags you can find in the cake decorating aisle at Michael's.   Sorry about the M & Ms, I made Chili Roasted Peanuts for my husband to take with him (boy did this week go fast) and I forgot to save some for the photo.


I really love that I will be able to make yummy treats and then make super simple and cute packaging using my expression.


I love comments and would certainly love recipes for treats or fun play recipes if you would like to share.


Don't forget to leave comments on all the blogs because I am sure Erica has something fun planned for blog candy.


Next you will go see what fantastic project Carol is sharing!   The entire lineup is posted below.


Happy Hopping
Laurie








My Cricut Craft Room- http://mycricutcraftroom.blogspot.com 
Melissa - http://pinkpolkadotscrapping.blogspot.com
Amanda - http://craftsbyamanda.blogspot.com/
Tracy - http://scrappininthewoods.blogspot.com/
Beckie - http://justbcreativecrazy.blogspot.com/
Erica- http://ericascraftroom.blogspot.com/ 
Tammy - http://thepurplemuse.blogspot.com
 Wendy - http://gilbyscraftster.blogspot.com 
Sheila - http://2pawprints.blogspot.com
Laurie - http://lauriecandoit.blogspot.com   YOU Are Here 
Carol - http://huffandpuffscrap.blogspot.com  NEXT
Blog Candy - http://ericasblogcandy.blogspot.com