Cricut Imagine - Warm Winter Wishes

The 2 tools that have completely changed how I papercraft are the computer and the Cricut die-cutting machine.

So, I was a little reluctant to embrace the new Cricut Imagine that came out a couple of years ago.

I thought it might take some of the creativity of out it for me.

Now that I have one, thanks to my job with Cricut Circle Magazine, and have played with it, I realize that comparing the original Cricut to the Imagine is like comparing apples to oranges.

It's a completely different breed and I love it! 

Here's my first card I made with it.  It was published in the December issue of Cricut Circle Magazine.  The cut & print image is the tree with birds, it's from the "Enjoy the Seasons" cartridge.

I cut a a background from patterned paper (although with the Imagine you can print out your own matching patterned paper!).

I cut a snowscape from white cardstock and printed a sentiment on cardstock as well.

I could have used the Imagine to print out a card in one fell swoop and that is great when you're in a hurry.  But I love the little details that make me linger on a card.  For this card, I added some puffy paint to the tree branches and sprinkles them with my favorite glitter, Martha Stewart.

A quick & simple card!  Glad I thought to post this while it's still officially winter!

Q's Creative Classes: Cricut keyboard code

I love my Cricut, but with gazillions of shapes in hundreds of cartridges, locating the perfect shape can be a frustrating and time-consuming experience.

In November, in an effort to help not just me, but my students as well, I introduced a new Cricut keyboard code.
Every Q's Creative Class Kit (starting Nov. 2011) will now have a keyboard code next to the Cricut shapes. 

Example:  Die-cut a 3" Flower with red cardstock (Lovely Floral Cart, code 0/4/7).

Now, you can quickly find the exact shape I used on the keyboard.  The more you use the code, the faster you'll find the exact key.  Now, I just look at the code and can visualize it.

Of course, when you purchase a Q's Creative Class Kit, you don't need to cut a thing!  Everything is pre-cut and ready to assemble.  However, I love to give my students the tools they need to make more of the same cards.

Some students prefer just to purchase extra kits, which are always discounted.  Some like to get down and crafty, use my templates, digital elements and instructions to create more of the same, or change up the paper and some details for their own unique versions.

My thanks to Jan in my South Jordan class for inspiring this idea.  If you ever have an idea to improve what I do, I would love to hear it!  Just email me. 

Cricut Circle Club Projects: October

I really appreciate being able to post my projects from Cricut Circle Magazine on my blog, but the 3-month rule makes it a little weird when it's the holidays!

Not sure you really want to see Halloween and Thanksgiving projects in January...do you?

So, I thought I'd start with this everyday card featuring this sweet little deer and frame from the Cindi Loo Cricut Cartridge.

Family Layout + Autumn = scraplift...and why not?  I love this tree.  Seriously, isn't it gorgeous?  I pretty much love everything on the Heritage Cricut Cartridge.  Go here to see the first time I used this tree.

Note to self:  Get NEW familiy photos!  These are great, but old!

If you know me, you know how much I love silhouettes and particularly the negative silhouette technique.  In fact, hello?  Didn't I just use this same technique last month?  see it here.

This time I stamped a wood grain background and used the Thanksgiving Cartridge.  If you love Thanksgiving, you really need (yes, it's a need) this cart.

For the ribbon detail, I took the ribbon through the name place hole.  I attached the brad through the hole, but not through the ribbon, because, really, it's a pain.  It was a tight enough fit to keep the ribbon in place.  I really liked this look and will use it again.




Lastly, I almost hate to do this, because it's so glaringly NOT Halloween, but it's so cute and not scary and perfect for little kids class parties, which is what I was assigned.

I used the Happy Haunting Cartridge for the skull & crossbones (hey, it just occured to me how cute this would be for a pirate birthday party).

The box is from Wrap it Up cartridge.

My favorite part of this project was digging around my button room (yes, I have a whole room full of buttons, you can get lost in there!) to find the perfect ones for his eyes.

Here's a random thought you'll get a kick out of, mainly because if you're reading this blog, you're probably crafty and as obsessed with buttons and all things small and attachable to cards as me.

My dear sister in law is deathly afraid of buttons. (yes, you know which one you are).  If they are loose.  If they are sewn on, then it's ok.  Hey, their are rules to these kind of phobias.  About 25 years ago, when I lived about 2000 miles away from her, I actually sent her a box of loose buttons.  Really?  Why would I do that if I didn't really have an evil streak in me somewhere?

Then last year, on vacation, I found a really cute button necklace, which I promptly bought and gave to her and then promptly took back because she didn't think it was very funny.  But why?

If you ever need a fantastic real estate agent in UT, this is the gal for you!  Email me.  There Sandi.  Payment for making fun of you on my blog.  Love ya!

Until next month...yup, Christmas at Valentine's!

Cricut Circle Club Projects: September

Here are my projects for the September issue of Cricut Circle magazine.

I had to get these gorgeous fall colors up before we change to red & greens!

I used probably my all-time favorite Cricut technique, negative silhouettes with this card. I just love the dimension and layering. 

Looking forward to making more versions of this card in different colors and patterns.









I've been wanting to use this darling squirrel from Disney's Happily Ever After Cartridge since I bought it years ago.  So happy to put him on paper!

The rich & vibrant paper and die-cut are by Imaginesce.

Lastly, a quick set of Fall Cards using a house die-cut and chipboard diecuts from Imaginesce again.  The die-cuts made this super quick & easy!

Yours in paper creativity!  Sue

Look what I found...

Remember this card? It was part of my August Card Class, Moovy Groovy. Something so satisfying about pulling that thread through all those holes and poof! Pinwheel!

Well, today I got to do one of my favorite things, perusing my cartridges on my Design Studio software. This is technically 'work', but it can easily turn into wasted hours if I'm not careful!

There are so many hidden gems in these cartridges, that I feel like I'll never become familiar with them all!

However, today I did find a shape I wanted to share with you. a pinwheel! In the new Mother's Day Limited Edition cartridge there is a great pinwheel shape, holes already punched, and ready to put together. I don't have time right now to do it, but thought I'd take a break from designing to share this find.

For those of you who didn't take my Moovy Groovy Class, the process is simple. Take a long piece of crochet thread (I like using it because it's thin, but strong) through two holes in a small button, leaving two equal lengths of thread hanging down.

Thread both hanging threads through the eye of a tapestry needle (larger eye, longer needle).

Take the end of the needle through one 'wing' hole, not going all the way through, just capturing it along the needle's length. Enter the hole from the bottom of the wing. Bend that wing towards the center of the pinwheel, still on the needle.

Bend the next wing towards the center and capture it with the needle. Now you have two wings on the needle.

Repeat until you have all four wings on the needle. All the wings and the end of the needle are pointed towards the center hole.

Carefully take the needle through the center hole and pull the thread until the entire pinwheel comes together. Tie it off, attach to a pixie stick or a card and you've got a whimsical paper craft to share with someone you love.

Cricut Cake

Well ladies, I just had to share this exciting news with you!

Earlier last year I heard about cutting sugar paste with the Cricut machine. I filed that exciting piece of information away in my brain and pulled it right out last month when my daughter announced she was getting married in 2010.

I ordered Linda McClure's DVD just last week and watched it last night. I'm all jazzed up to try this and make my daughter's cake. Call me crazy!

Coincidentally I visited the Cricut.com website tonight for some unrelated information and low & behold, there it was. A scrumptious, Red, Cricut Cake Machine! I couldn't believe it...then again, I could. It's really brilliant. I simply cannot wait to start!

I will say, that in Linda's video (she came up with this whole idea), she uses her regular cricut machine with a deep blade and minor, but not necessary, changes to her machine.

But, I sure love the look of the Red Cricut Cake machine. Wouldn't that look perfect next to a brand new Red kitchen aid? Don't have either, but a girl can dream, can't she?

P.S. Watch the video. You'll drool. Well, if you're the type to like this kind of thing you'll drool.

P.S.S. Linda's video was well worth the investment in my opinion. It wasn't very professional, but the tips and information she gave more than made up for that.