Posts Tagged ‘Animal Kingdom’
Doggy Treat Container
Welcome Cricut Fans! It’s Juliana Michaels! I have a fun little up-cycle/recycle project to share with you today to create a fun treat container for your perfect pooch! My husband and I have recently made friends with some sweet neighbors who have dogs. So now when we want a dog fix, we know where to go! LOL!!! With that in mind, I was inspired to create today’s project using my Cricut Expression machine, Cricut Vinyl, and an empty 2lb plus coffee can.
Here is the empty container before I decorated it. I want to say thanks to my Dad for drinking so much coffee and being willing to part with a few of his empty containers. He uses these to store all kinds of things, but was happy to share a few with me for my crafting projects.
I selected images from Create A Critter and Animal Kingdom and then laid out my design in the Cricut Craft Room using the fill mode to select colors. This always helps me decide what colors to use because I can see it before I cut it! I love that!!!
I pre-cut small pieces of the vinyl, just larger than the image to be cut and placed them on my mat in the same place as they are on the Cricut Craft Room cutting mat.
One way to apply small vinyl cuts is to peel back part of the lining to help you place the vinyl on the surface. It worked equally well to peel off all of the lining and put it on just like any sticker. It was very easy to remove the vinyl and replace it on the coffee can surface. However, once you start sticking vinyl on top of vinyl it is not so easy to remove because it sticks more and the vinyl tends to stretch if you are not very careful.
Now that the yellow panels are in place we will begin to decorate the container.
Add your wording first. I wanted the dog images to slightly overlap the words so it is important to put the words on first because it is hard to lift up the dog to get the words underneath without stretching the vinyl as I mentioned above.
Add your dog silhouette.
A great tip I found in adding the top layer for the dog was to peel off the image and then use the scrap lining from the yellow pieces. I placed the dog image just off the edge and then I was able to place it just how I wanted on the black silhouette. I wanted to slightly offset the top layer so this worked perfectly!
Here are some up close images of the dalmatian
and the poodle!
Maybe you don’t have pets either, but this same idea could be used for so many things. These containers are huge and would work well to hold all kinds of crafty, scrappy goodness too! Think how cute these would be decorated to match your scrappy room!!! Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you enjoyed this little workshop!
HUGS!
Designed by: Juliana Michaels
Cricut Machines Used: Cricut Expression Electronic Cutting Machine, Cricut Craft Room
Cricut Cartridges Used: Create A Critter, Animal Kingdom
Other Supplies Used: Cricut Vinyl in Yellow, Peacock Blue, Cotton, Raven, Chocolate, and Latte; Ribbon, Buttons, Twine
Caught Our Eye: Gina Piazza
We have another Caught Our Eye Crafter to introduct to you today. Gina Piazza is a sculptor turned paper artist who is a member of the Cricut Circle. Gina pours incredible detail into her dimensional projects that we find delightful! Let’s get to know Gina a little better.
1. How did you first fall in love with your Cricut?
I was using machinery & software that uses x & y & z (for depth) points to carve styrofoam. When I noticed that Cricut cut with x & y points, I was intrigued. I kept thinking the price was way too inexpensive for this type of cutting machinery, so I had to try it out and have been head over heels in love ever since!
2. What Cricut Machines/Products do you own? (Expression, Imagine, Cuttlebug, Yudu, etc.)
All of the above LOL!! I am wanting to get a Cricut Cake machine, a Yudu CardShop and an Original Cricut! And I know, in time, I will have them!
3. What kinds of projects do you love to create? (Cards, Scrapbooking, Home Decor, Altered, Mixed Media) Tell us a little bit about your art.
I hate to admit, not coming from a paper crafting background, that I am super fascinated by everything and little by little learning to make cards and scrapbooks. What I truly love to create is anything that is sculptural and has as much dimension as I can get into it. I have been drawing, painting, sculpting and designing since I was a child and projects that require or show new techniques or originality really make me smile. I have gone backwards a bit in my art, I started many years ago, sculpting marble, then clay, then wood, and recently do almost everything in styrofoam and paper. A few of my Cricut projects (the Disney Castle that was featured in the Chirp) and my pirate ship just ‘happened’ because I wanted to try out every single cut on those cartridges and then had to figure out a way to display them all. There will definitely be a complete Santas Village project coming soon!
4. Name your three most favorite Cricut Expression Cartridges? (the ones you use the most or the ones that you are in love with at the moment)
Wow… I don’t have favorites and I use all of them all of the time…. This month my most used would be Thanksgiving Seasonal, George & Basic Shapes, and Flower Shoppe.
5. What is your most frequently used Imagine cartridge? (or the one that you are in love with at the moment)
Well, I loved making my pirate ship with Buccaneer, but what I am loving most about Imagine is being able to use any cartridge and fill and layer in Craftroom. So, the Disney Cartridges have become a refound pleasure to work with.
6. What is your most frequently used Cuttlebug folder? (or the one that you are in love with at the moment)
Diamond, Snowflakes, Halloween Borders… I never know what I’ll be creating next and they are all so fabulous….
7. What three NEW cartridges are at the top of your Must-Have List?
I can’t wait for our new Exclusive Circle Cartridge: Paper Trimmings. But I also want Santa’s Village, New Testament, Go Canada & Fast Food Lite … (Well truthfully I want all of them!)
8. What inspires you to create?
Trees, grass, the sunshine, the Cricut Circle, the beach, my dog, I see inspiration in everything around me.
9. If you could choose a theme/design for the next Expression cartridge, what would you choose?
No idea, really, I think Provo Craft has done an amazing job of getting different types of images to us. Perhaps a few more licensed Carts- Harley Davidson, Dr. Suess, Mary Englebreit…
10. If you could choose a theme/design for the next Imagine cartridge, what would you choose?
Halloween! and with a hand-drawn look like Buccaneer.
11. If you could choose the next three Cuttlebug folder patterns, what would they be? What size would they be?
12 x 12!!! and the only ones I really want are waves and seashells…
12. If you could add a feature to the Cricut Expression Anniversary Edition, what would it do?
Oh my, what doesn’t that machine do?
13. How do you keep your cartridges? (i.e. In the original boxes, in alphabetical order, etc.)
In typical day I use 10-15 carts, so my Gypsy Handheld Design Device is wonderful. I can’t imagine having to pull cartridges out of boxes…
14. What is your favorite part of the Cricut Circle?
I love everything about the Cricut Circle, but it is the people who make it what it is; including the design teams and the Provo Craft support staff.
15. If you had 5 minutes with Provo Craft’s Product Development Department to chat about machines, cartridges, etc., what would you say?
If I can dream a new product it would be something with a z point or something that could cut foamboard.
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TRIO OF TURKEYS by Gina Piazza
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MAIN CENTERPIECE
Cricut Expression Electronic Cutting Machine
Thanksgiving Seasonal Cartridge or Wildlife Cartridge
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DIRECTIONS:
1. Create the TURKEY TAIL
All feathers are cut from Flower Shoppe Cartridge (see below).
- Cut 8-10 large single petals (height 16″)
- Cut 7 medium single petals (height 7.37″)
- Cut 7 small single petals (height 4.73″)
(The actual feathers cut out at about 8″, 6″ and 3″)
Ink edges, score down center, use Martha Stewart Crafts 5-in-1 scissors to fringe edges. Arrange in fan shape & glue; set aside. NOTE: I welded shape <wtrlily1> Layer 2 Feature from the Art Nouveau Cartridge onto the ends of my petals with my Gypsy Device. <Ruffle3> from Flower Shoppe to get the shaped ends at the top of the petals.
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2. Create the TURKEY WINGS
Wings: Cut two of 2 different sizes. Arrange in fan shape; set aside. NOTE: I elongated the petals with my Gypsy Device to make them thinner.
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3. Create the TURKEY BODY
Cut flower shape I used <daisy4> (use the Fit to Page Feature). Score across each inner point. Cut through the center of one petal and score on each side of that petal to the center. Glue those two flaps up. Sit on ring of cardstock. OPTIONAL: Repurpose a pumpkin, bowl, or other container as a body! Here a used a metal tin pail!
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4. Create the TURKEY HEAD
Cut 2 side view turkey heads (side views are on both ‘Thanksgiving and Wildlife) at 17.9″. NOTE: When I need just part of an image; pull the image off the mat so just the part you need is showing). Ink, glue eyes (these are doll eyes; but a great source of animal eyes is Cabelas). Glue or sew the two heads around the edge. Stuff lightly & set aside.
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5. Create the TURKEY BREAST
Weld a row of single flower petals to a rectangle. I used 2 8″ rows but this is what I call “filler” and its always good to have extra for reenforcement and touch up
6. ASSEMBLY
Glue tail opposite the flap that is folded up. Glue head onto the flap that is up. and wings onto the sides. Trim with Breast feathers.
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TURKEY TREAT CUPS
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DIRECTIONS:
1. Cut 6″ flower shape. Almost any flower shape will work!
2. Hand cut to center, form shape & glue. One petal will be where the head is attached; fold down the petals on each side of this one to make wings.
3. Cut two turkey heads as above (7″) ; add eyes, and additional flower petals to tail.
4. Sit on Cardstock ring.
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CUSTOM STAMPED/SHAPED NAPKIN RINGS
I love my Gypsy Design Device and I love to create custom shapes. I saw this stamp and knew I need to create a shape for it. I learned in school to break any complex shape into basic shapes; but since we already have a great little turkey on Animal Kingdom Cartridge, these are the shapes I came up with using the Weld Feature. Gypsy and Cricut Craft Room make it easy to turn basic shapes (flower, circle, turkey, hat & oval) into a unique shape!
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Thanks for sharing your wonderful Thanksgiving projects with us today, Gina! It was a pleasure having you join us here on the Cricut Blog. If you would like to create the Gina’s projects, she has graciously shared her Gypsy Files with us. You can download them below.
***DOWNLOAD Gina Piazza’s Turkey Centerpiece Gypsy File Here***
***DOWNLOAD Gina Piazza’s Turkey Treat Cup Gypsy File Here***
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Fishin’ Addition Travel Game
With Memorial Day weekend behind us the summer travel season is in full swing! As you pack up the kids for that next road trip you will surely want to be prepared. Check out this next idea from papercrafter, Lisa Falsuto. She always takes lots of activities on her Family vacations to keep her 7 year old busy as they travel. Her goal is to take educational and fun activities that involve learning as they drive along, headed for a fun vacation spot. She says, “This year our focus is addition, so Fishin’ Addition was created!”
Create an educational game that is suited for your child’s age and skill level. You can easily adapt this to be Fishin’ multiplication, subtraction, or division. Or if your child is learning letters, try the alphabet. This is a game that grows with your child since all you have to do is cut more fish and change the information that you write on them! You can involve your children in the process of making the game and also let them write their own facts on the fish too.
My daughter is wild about this game because she loves sticking that magnetic fishing pole and seeing what she pulls out next. This kept her entertained for 45 minutes which was great for some quiet time while driving to our destination. With this game in hand you are sure to have smooth sailing on your next vacation! (pun intended)
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Designer Hints:
- Create waves and attach in layers alternating light and dark teal going up the can.
- Add inked and layered fish between the waves going around the can.
- Attach velveteen ribbon on top and bottom of can.
- Create cover using gold scallop, brown circle, letters, fish and seaweek.
- Add paperclips to noses of blackout fish and write addition fact.
- Drill hole in popsicle stick, add jute cord and magnet.
- Tie ribbon to paint can handle.
Designed by: Lisa Falduto
Cricut Machines used: Cricut Expression
Cricut Cartridges used: ZooBalloo, Elegant Edges, George & Basic Shapes, Don Juan, Animal Kingdom
Other: Cardstock (light teal, dark teal, green, gold, red, brown, black), Coordinating ribbon, popsicle stick, jute cord, magnet, paper clips, small wiggle eyes, permanent black marker, brown ink pad, Craft drill, red scallop velveteen ribbon, Clear or regular paint can with handle (4.25″ in diameter, 5″ tall)
