Posts Tagged ‘Ideas – Summer’
Memories of Summer Mini Album
Hello, Kristen Swain here with a summer memories album that will be sure to warm you up as you look through it during the cold winter months. I created this simple album focusing on keeping my die cut elements large, my photos about wallet sized and using bright colors. I used all cardstock so I kept costs down but was able to keep colors on each page.
Using a plain album, I decided that using spray mist would help me add background color, without the difficulty of trimming off paper at the edges of the cover. I used a lime and a jack frost color, then added in a spray and larger drops of turquoise across the front and back of the album. There is a touch of glitz as well. Then I cut some bright colorful letters for the title, adding in a bright sun as well, and I used brown for the rest of the title, so it would stand out, but not be the strongest color on the front.
I created the inside album pages by cutting 8.5 x 11 paper to fit, punching holes where I would thread the album together later. Next, I thought about which photos I wanted to use, printed them out and searched in Cricut Craft Room for images to go along with my page. Details on each page include banner pieces. These are easily cut from strips of paper that with a triangle shape notched out from the ends with scissors. Add bright coordinating buttons tied with twine bows. I kept my journaling simple, handwriting it with a journaling pen.
Simple, easy, and colorful. I hope you have enjoyed my summer album. I have left space to add more pages as we continue our summer activities.
Take care!
Designed by: Kristen Swain
Cricut Machines Used: Cricut Expression Electronic Cutting Machine, Gypsy Handheld Design Device, Cricut Craft Room
Cricut Cartridges Used: Campin’ Critters, Carousel (Digital), Life is a Beach, Lite Crocs Rule, Art Deco, Something to Celebrate, Gypsy Font
Other Supplies Used: Cardstock (American Crafts), Buttons, Twine, Wiggle Eyes, Album (Creative Imaginations), Pen, Glitter, Spray Mist (Tattered Angels & Maya Road), Adhesives
Setting Up Camp
Whether you’re camping, cruising, or sitting around the pool this summer, the Pack Your Bags cartridge has all kinds of images to help you record your summer memories!
Hi Cricut Fans! Jana Eubank here. My family loves to go camping in the mountains each summer. I giggle at ourselves everytime we set up our camp because the first thing that gets pulled out, along with the kids’ camp chairs and nature exploring kits, is the satellite dish … my husband loves to have his news. I had to record this funny, family memory and chose the adorable car and trailer images from the Pack Your Bags cartridge to accent my page.
I cut the images out using several patterned papers and cardstocks. I chose to use vellum for the windows for a slight hint of transparency. I created the “road” for my vehicle with a length of burlap ribbon . . . perfect texture for a camping page.
My title was created using letter stickers anchored on an oval bookplate image from the Fabulous Finds cartridge. I added metal eyelets and tied a bit of twine on each end to match the natural burlap texture at the bottom of the page. The background of the bookplate image was stamped with a woodgrain stamp to give it more of a natural feeling, as well.
Thanks for stopping by today! Happy Summer!
Designed by: Jana Eubank
Cricut Machines Used: Cricut Expression 2 Electronic Cutting Machine
Cricut Cartridges Used: Pack Your Bags, Fabulous Finds
Other Supplies: Noel Mignon “Study Hall” kit, Cardstock (black, kraft, blue), Patterned Paper (Lily Bee Design), Vellum, Labels (Elle’s Studio), Letter Stickers (October Afternoon), Mini Letter Stickers/Buttons/Burlap Ribbon (My Mind’s Eye), Eyelets (American Crafts), Ruler Stamp (Jenni Bowlin), Woodgrain Background Stamp (Stampin’ Up), Banner Stamps (Teresa Collins Designs), Ink (StazOn), Sewing Machine & Thread, Paper Piercer, Needle & Floss, Punches (Martha Stewart Crafts, EK Success, Marvy Uchida), Black Distress Ink (Colorbox), Tiny Attacher & Staples (Tim Holtz), Metal Photo Corner, Black Gel Pen (American Crafts), Twine, Adhesives
Boredom Buster: Paper Bead Necklaces & Bracelets
Summer is nearing it’s halfway mark and about this time the kids start looking for differnt ways to entertain themselves. If you keep hearing the words “I’m booooored” at your house, why not pull out your Cricut Expression Electronic Cutting machine and let your kids give this next idea a try?! The great thing about this craft is it is something that both boys and girls can do . . . just change the colors and patterns of the papers you decide to cut for the beads. You could even customize them for upcoming holidays . . . red, white & blue with star shapes for summer parades . . . tropical colors & flowers for a Hawaiian Luau . . . black, orange, purple, green & white with skulls, bats, and pumpkin shapes for Halloween . . . the possibilities are wide open!
PAPER BEAD NECKLACES by Jana Eubank
To begin this project you will need several patterned papers and/or cardstock, needle & embroidery floss, quick-drying liquid glue, and plastic beads (if desired). Pull out what you have in your stash and let your kids experiment . . . you might be surprised at what they come up with!
I created the paper beads by taking a plain pennant shape from the Country Life cartridgeand stretching the image in Cricut Craft Room. You could also do this using your Gypsy Handheld Design Device. I also hid the holds placed at the top of the pennant so that there wouldn’t be any holes in my paper bead. Next, I used the flower and circle shapes from the Plantin Schoolbook Digital cartridge to make accent pieces for my paper bead necklace. I have included my Cricut Craft Room cut file at the bottom of this post for you to download and use if you would like.
Cut several “beads” using a variety of patterned papers. Next, you will need to roll up your triangle pieces to create the beads. This is very easy to do. Your kids will have a blast selecting their colors and patterns! Before rolling, I used a bone folder (or scoring tool) to burnish the paper to make it easier to roll up. Place the triangle piece on a soft pad (like a mousepad) and use the side of your tool to “soften” the paper, like this.
Beginning from the wide end of the triangle, start rolling up the paper bead. When you have rolled the bead halfway, stop and apply a light coat of quick-drying craft glue to the remaining triangle piece. Continue rolling up the paper bead and hold it in place for a few seconds as the glue dries. You now have a paper bead!
For this necklace, my daughter and I strung together several of the paper beads, adding small, plastic beads inbetween. We stacked together several circles and flowers as accent pieces. To make the flower petals curl up a bit, we burnished them with the scoring tool on the mousepad, the same we did the paper beads.
For the bracelet, we used the same paper bead, but used scissors to trim off each end to make the beads smaller.
If desired, you can add a sealant (like ModPodge) to your paper beads to protect them. And before you know it your kids will be creating necklaces and bracelets for all of their friends.
Happy Summer!
Designed by: Jana Eubank
Cricut Machines Used: Cricut Expression Electronic Cutting Machine, Cricut Craft Room
Cricut Cartridges Used: Country Life, Plantin Schoolbook – Digital
Other Supplies: Patterned Paper (My Mind’s Eye), Needle & White Embroidery Floss, Soft Pad & Bone Folder, Liquid Adhesive (Scotch Quick-Drying Tacky Glue), Plastic Beads, ModPodge (if desired)
