Posts Tagged ‘Something to Celebrate’
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
A Bracelet for Mom
Hello! Kristen Swain here today to show you a fun and cute project that you can create with the kids for a great mother’s day present. I think Shrink Art is fun, fast, and fabulous! So today I created this pretty charm bracelet that I think will just ‘charm’ mom on her day! And don’t forget, mother-in-laws, grandmothers, sisters and cousins are sure to love this sweet gift as well. And of course, with your Cricut Expression Electronic Cutting Machine you can make your own gift boxes and not only will they be gorgeous, but so much less expensive then buying wrapping and bows and bags at the store.
I bought some clear shrink film at the craft store. You can buy the opaque kind and sand it and use colored pencils.But I prefer the clear, and I use sharpie markers to get the color on each charm.
First thing to do is find the images you would like to use and cut them out using your Cricut Expression Electronic Cutting Machine and cartridges. I chose to use several flower images and sized them a bit larger so that they will be the correct size after I shrunk them down.
I used several shades of pastel permanent markers to color over each shape. There is no need to worry too much about doing a completely perfect job with the marker, because the color deepens and evens out during the next step when you shrink the shapes down. Before shrinking your images, be sure to punch a hole with a hole punch to enable you to hang your charms later on. When I shrink the shapes, I use an embossing heat gun, the kind usually used for heating embossing powders for stamping. I find that this tool gives me more control and a much faster shrink time. I use a large needle through the punched holes to hold the shape in place and to keep it from blowing around my desk from teh heat of the heat gun.
Now I have an assortment of shapes (flowers) and colors to work with. You could personalize this more if your mom likes a certain kind of animal, flower, has a specific job or enjoys a particular activity.
Next, you will need a large link bracelet (or charm bracelet), some assorted charms, shell disks, and jump rings. You will also need a pair or two of needle nose or jewelry pliers.
I spaced out the shrink art charms evenly, then randomly added extra beads and charms to the bracelet. Buttons would also be fun!
Here is another view of the bracelet . . .
Finally, to package the bracelet as a gift, you can create a pillow box using the Something to Celebrate cartridge. I used kraft paper and a small pink leaf patterned paper. After cutting the pieces out, I adhered the box together and wrapped twine around it several times tying a knot on the front. I adorned the front of the box with a beautiful, dimensional flowers I made using the Flower Shoppe cartridge. I layered several flower cuts together and then added some leaves. The center of the flower is an old button tied with a simple twine bow. Wrap the bracelet with some tissue paper and you have a sweet handmade gift for mom!
Happy Mother’s Day!
Designed by: Kristen Swain
Cricut Machines Used:Cricut Expression Electronic Cutting Machine, Cricut Craft Room
Cricut Cartridges Used: Flower Shoppe, Something to Celebrate, Sophie (Cricut Circle Exclusive)
Other Supplies: Cardstock (American Crafts), Patterned Papers (Pebbles Inc.), Shrink Film (Graphix), Markers (Sharpie), Twine, Button, Jewelry Supplies, Adhesives
NEW Cricut Craft Room Exclusives
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Cricut Craft Room™ Exclusives, 3D Lanterns
Create beautiful, intricate décor with the 3D Lanterns digital images! This set includes six different patterns for lanterns. Just cut four of a single pattern and glue them together to create a square lantern!
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LANTERN by Cindy Royal
Designed By: Cindy Royal
Cricut Machines Used: Cricut Expression 2 Electronic Cutting Machine, Cricut Craft Room
Cricut Cartridges Used: 3D Lanterns (Cricut Craft Room Exclusive), Flower Shoppe – Digital, Sweet Tooth Boxes, Cricut Font & Basic Shapes
Other Supplies: Cardstock, Patterned Paper (My Mind’s Eye), Quilling tool, Large gems (Teresa Collins Designs), Ribbon, Vellum, Tea light candle, Adhesives
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WEDDING LANTERN by Provo Craft Design Team
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Cricut Craft Room™ Exclusives, France
Remember the best parts of your trip abroad with the France digital images! This set includes the Notre Dame, a J’adore Paris phrase, French food, an artist, the Eiffel Tower, a metro sign, the Arc de Triomphe, the country of France, and a statue.
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WORK OF HEART by Charity Hassel
Designed By: Charity Hassel
Cricut Machines Used: Cricut Expression 2 Electronic Cutting Machine, Cricut Craft Room
Cricut Cartridges Used: France (Cricut Craft Room Exclusive)
Other Supplies: Cardstock (Cricut, Bazzill), Liquid glass, Rhinestones (Creative Charms), Computer & printer (Font: French Script), Adhesives
CRICUT CUTS:
- Cut <Artist> and all layers at 4″
- Cut <shift> <J’adore> at 3/4″
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J’ADORE by Provo Craft Design Team
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Cricut Craft Room™ Exclusives, Italy
Celebrate this nation’s history and beauty with the Italy digital images! This set includes images for the Vatican, the Duomo, the Agrigento, the Coliseum, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and Venice.
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VENICE by Jana Eubank
Designed By: Jana Eubank
Cricut Machines Used: Cricut Expression 2 Electronic Cutting Machine, Cricut Craft Room
Cricut Cartridges Used: Italy (Cricut Craft Room Exclusive)
Other Supplies: Cardstock (American Crafts), Patterned Paper (Basic Grey, My Mind’s Eye), Transparency Borders (My Mind’s Eye), Flowers (Prima), Ribbon, Decorative Brads (Making Memories), Sewing machine & thread), Black Gel Pen, Adhesives, Photos (source)
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LEAN ON ME by Provo Craft Design Team
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Cricut Craft Room™ Exclusives, Luggage Tags
Get ready for an exciting vacation with the Luggage Tags digital images! This set of six tags is perfect to help identify your bags. Just write your name in the blank spaces and then laminate the tags to make them more durable!
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BACKPACK TAG by Kristen Swain
Designed By: Kristen Swain
Cricut Machines Used: Cricut Expression 2 Electronic Cutting Machine, Cricut Craft Room
Cricut Cartridges Used: Luggage Tags (Cricut Craft Room Exclusive)
Other Supplies: Cardstock (American Crafts), Wiggle Eye, Iridescent sequins, Spray Mist (Tattered Angels), Ball chain, Computer & printer (Font: Courier MS), Adhesives
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ELEGANT TAG by Provo Craft Design Team
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Cricut Craft Room™ Exclusives, Switzerland
Revisit the breathtaking beauty of this mountainous country with the Switzerland digital images! This set of images includes a Switzerland phrase, an alphorn player, a bar of chocolate, a skier, the country of Switzerland, and the Alps.
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MEET ME AT THE BOTTOM by Amy Mitchell
Designed By: Amy Mitchell
Cricut Machines Used: Cricut Expression 2 Electronic Cutting Machine, Cricut Craft Room
Cricut Cartridges Used: Switzerland (Cricut Craft Room Exclusive), Something to Celebrate, Elegant Edges
Other Supplies: Cardstock (black, silver, white, green pattern, green, brown, fleshtone), , Baggies, Hot Cocoa Mix, Small Marshmallows, Adhesive, Glue Dots, Stapler & staples, Black lining pen
Cut all elements and assemble. Print sentiment on tag. Outline edge of tag. Fill baggies and staple together at the top. Attach topper with Glue Dots.
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SWITZERLAND by Provo Craft Design Team
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