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.

Christmas Tag Collection Class update

Good news! Product has arrived in ALL Roberts Stores except Provo (hopefully tomorrow). Take advantage of the 50% coupon that ends tomorrow! Classes start next Tuesday, I'm SO excited. Can't wait to see my 1000 tags put to good use!

Celebrate You Card

I really should wait a few weeks before sharing this with you, but I couldn't resist.



This will be just part of my July Studio 5 segment. Consider it an really early 'sneak-peek'! I will say NO MORE!

I've said this before and I'll say it over and over again until I'm really good at it, "USE your supplies!". I'm notorious (and you might find yourself in similar shoes) at going ga-ga over product in the stores, buying it, storing it and NEVER using it!

So, I was so happy to pull out this flower paper by My Mind's Eye last week and actually make something with it.

I thought It might be fun and interesting to take you through my design thought process and maybe you can answer the questions with your own stash.

1. Pull out product and ask "what do I love about it?"
Answer: the color, linear lines and cute flowers.

2. What do I want to emphasize?
Answer: Color and shape of flower.
Thought: Initially I fussy-cut out the flowers on the paper and even applied Ice Stickles to the center dots, but in the end decided this was FAR TOO fussy for the time-frame I had. The flowers were pretty small, so I decided to look for a larger similar flower in my die-cut stash. Found just what I was looking for with the new Cricut Home Decor Cartridge.



3. What complimentary colors do I want to use?
Answer: I love this part, getting to go through MORE stash. I decided on Orange for the flower and blues for the background.

4. Where do I put a sentiment?
Answer: This was easy, the big circle in the middle of the flower was a perfect way to use some of my circle stamps. This one is by Stampin Up.
Tip: Litte tags are great ways to add a sentiment without making it the star of the card, then again, sometimes you have a great sentiment that ends up being the focal point. Occasionally, I leave the sentiment for the inside. You can also hide the sentiment in a pocket or pull-out.

5. Just one more thing?
Answer: I love to add a little texture to a card. In this case, a little flower & brad in the center of the stamped sentiment.
Tip: Sometimes that little brad, button, flower, glitter etc...can add that extra detail that finishes the card. Always ask yourself, "does it need something else" and then have a trinket and treasure stash to go to.

Finito! I whipped up a BUNCH of these and used ALL that paper. I even had a bit extra to make a gift bag.

Hope you find some time this week to USE your stash!

Trend Alert: Fruit Basket

It's not surprising to see fruit all over our paper crafting products. Great silhouettes, colors and sweet associations. What's not to love? Well, actually, apricots...but that's another story.

Watch my segment below to see 3 fruit products and 3 fruit projects, from little girlie fun to sophisticated home decor. And when it's time to make dinner, check out my Jamaican Papaya Salad with it's cool dressing twist. It's at the Studio 5 website, but with the wrong picture. Hopefully that will be corrected soon, but either way, I'll be posting the recipe here a little later.

My first pick for product is from Doodlebug. Simply adorable patterns with strawberries and cherries. Their boutique brads are almost good enough to eat!

I created this little girlie trinket tote. I used Provo Crafts Chipboard purse, Maya Roads chipboard tags and rub-ons from American Crafts. What a fun summer-time project to make with your little girl (or maybe even your big one?).

I simply painted the chipboard, traced each side on the paper, trimmed, adhered and sanded off the edges. The rest is just embellishing with ribbon, tags and those yummy brads.

I discovered this cute little stamp company when I was researching fruit stamps. Check out Lizzie Anne's designs. I loved the mix of traditional fruit shapes with more contemporary patterns. Had so much fun creating this super simple gift bag.

I used my cat's eye ink pads to ink the rubber (blending slightly) and stamped randomly all over the bag and then added some of her sayings with black ink.

Sometimes I just love to simply stamp without nary an embellishment. Unless you count the tissue paper?

Lastly, I wanted to share a little technique called negative silhouette that works so perfectly with the shapes of fruits. Simply cut your shape but use the negative shape instead of the positive. Layer this over your choice of patterned paper (you could also stamp it) for a dramatic look.

I used an inexpensive shadowbox type frame or a floating frame. If your frame doesn't give you enough depth between layers you can add some with foam squares.

With Home decor you'll want to keep it simple, more graphic and with less embellishments. Here I've added a simple rhinestone and bead to highlight the leaves.

Note: Our Studio 5 sneak-peek winner is Sadie!

sadie said...

I am going to guess
1. preparing something with mango's
2. making a very cute hat box/or makeup box.
3. a pear from cricut shadow box.
4. a delicious salad
thanks sadie

June 14, 2009 6:49 PM

Sadie came the closest to guessing just what I was doing today. In fact, she was RIGHT on the pear silhouette. And the salad is definitely delicious. Since no one got it exactly, I think that means I made my pictures a bit too hard this time.

Sadie has won a collection of the adorable Doodlebug collection and a Provo Craft chipboard piece. Congratulations!

I Heart Felt

My turn to blog at PC Connection...please read more about felt, see my project, get instructions and leave a comment there for a heart FELT give-away!



One of the comments left asked me whether I could cut a flourish on the Cuttlebug. Not to leave a stone unturned, I tried it with the most flourishy die-cut I had. Worked beautifully, but again, needed a few shims for a super clean cut. This particular die-cut lends itself nicely to brads anchoring the ends and possibly something in the center. Will have to work it in later.



While I was playing around I noticed my embossing folders and wondered "what if" and was quite surprised and pleased with the effect. This definately needed some torque (power through baby!) but was worth it. It's a subtle look but would make a pretty background.



My heartfelt wishes to you today!

Box of Colors

Yup, that's what I got in the mail the other day. Scrumptious new Colorbox ink colors from Clearsnap. My dream job: getting to name new ink pad colors! jk.



Surf: Can't you just hear it?
Picante, Mango Tango, Lemon Grass and Razzberry: Makes me hungry!
Citrine and True blue: Let's go jewelry shopping!

...and Wild Hare, MY FAV! Grey, this season's black. Trends are pairing this color with everything from orange, lime, yellow and blue. Here's a little peek at some cards I created with the new colors. Look for them at your local craft store!

Custom printed acetate...yahoo!

A few months ago I invested (yup, because it's kind of pricey, around $1 a sheet) in a package of Ink Jet Transparency Film. I've finally gotten around to playing with it and I'm in LOVE!



It was Ladies Night on Saturday at Roberts Crafts here in Utah and I had the pleasure of doing make-and-takes. I chose to use fellow Paper Crafts Pro Kim Kesti's design from CKC because it's so quick and easy. I love alliteration, so how does Kim Kesti is the Queen of Quick Cards sound?



I changed up the design a bit and created the window (because I just love peeking through things!) and printed the sentiment on the acetate. I love to share, so download 3 FREE circle sentiments for you to print off for yourselves. Notice it's backwards? It needs to be because it's printed on the rough side of the acetate and you'll want the smooth side up. I've also included the right-side as well, if you just want to print the sentiments on paper.



P.S. I found the exact film I used at Staples, but found the best price at Amazon, although it's specifically for HP printers.

Good luck and Have fun!