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

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